cannibal

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Cariban *kariponader. Spanish caribeder. Spanish caríbalder. Spanish caníbalbor. English cannibal Borrowed from Spanish caníbal, from Taíno caniba, the Taíno form recorded by Christopher Columbus for the Caribs, who were greatly feared. From an Arawak language, probably Taíno, and ultimately from Proto-Cariban *karipona (“person”). Doublet of Carib, caribe, Garifuna, Carijona, Kari'na, and Caribbean.

1. An organism which eats others of its own species or kind, especially a human who consumes human flesh.

   “These insects were not uncommon beneath stones. I found one cannibal scorpion quietly devouring another.”

   “Up the cave I went, and after me came the others, and after them thundered the whole crowd of cannibals, mad with fury at the death of the woman.”

2. Ellipsis of cannibal boat.