porcus
From Proto-Italic *porkos, from Proto-Indo-European *pórḱos (“young pig”). Cognate with Old English fearh (“piglet”). More at farrow. Compare also Ancient Greek πόρκος (pórkos).
Pronunciation
- (Classical Latin) IPA(key): /ˈpor.kus/, [ˈpɔrkʊs̠]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /ˈpor.kus/, [ˈpɔrkus]
Noun
porcus m (genitive porcī); second declension
- a piglet, a young pig
- (more generally) a pig, hog
- Short for porcus marīnus (“sea-hog, mereswine, porpoise”).
- (derogatory) glutton, pig
- female genitalia
Usage notes
- For the semantic shift of “pig” to “female genitalia”, compare the same Ancient Greek use of χοῖρος (khoîros).