porcus

porcus uit.-lat. Borg

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

1. a piglet, a young pig
2. (more generally) a pig, hog
3. Short for porcus marīnus (“sea-hog, mereswine, porpoise”).
4. (derogatory) glutton, pig
5. female genitalia

Usage notes

• For the semantic shift of “pig” to “female genitalia”, compare the same Ancient Greek use of χοῖρος (khoîros).