hippopotamus

noun

Etymology: From Latin and New Latin hippopotamus, from Ancient Greek ἱπποπόταμος (hippopótamos), from ἵππος (híppos, “horse”) (English hippo-) + ποταμός (potamós, “river”). First attested in the 1560s. Displaced native Old English sǣhenġest, and largely displaced English nicker (from native Old English nicor) and river horse.

1. A semi-aquatic, herbivorous, African hoofed mammal of the family Hippopotamidae.
2. The common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius).

   “These were the first hippopotami that we had ever seen, and, to judge by their insatiable curiosity, I should judge that we were the first white men that they had ever seen.”