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Webster 1913 Edition


Cannibal

Can′ni-bal

,
Noun.
[Cf. F.
cannibale
. Columbus, in a letter to the Spanish monarchs written in Oct., 1498, mentions that the people of Haiti lived in great fear of the
Caribales
(equivalent to E.
Caribbees
.), the inhabitants of the smaller Antilles; which form of the name was afterward changed into NL.
Canibales
, in order to express more forcibly their character by a word intelligible through a Latin root “propter rabiem
caninam
anthropophagorum gentis.” The Caribbees call themselves, in their own language.
Calinago
,
Carinago
,
Calliponam
, and, abbreviated,
Calina
, signifying a brave, from which Columbus formed his
Caribales
.]
A human being that eats human flesh; hence, any that devours its own kind.
Darwin.

Can′ni-bal

,
Adj.
Relating to cannibals or cannibalism.
Cannibal terror.”
Burke.

Webster 1828 Edition


Cannibal

CANNIBAL

,
Noun.
A human being that east human flesh; a man-eater, or anthropophagite.

Definition 2024


cannibal

cannibal

English

Noun

cannibal (plural cannibals)

  1. An organism which eats others of its own species, especially a human who eats human flesh.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Charles Darwin to this entry?)

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