A large marine mammal related to manatees, found in warm coastal waters from East Africa to Australia, that eats seagrass.
From Malay 'dugong,' possibly derived from a Visayan or Philippine language origin. The word was adopted into English through maritime contacts with Southeast Asia. It refers to the same creature Europeans sometimes called a 'sea cow.'
Dugongs have been hunted for thousands of years and inspired mermaid legends in cultures across the Indian Ocean and Pacific—sailors probably mistook their silhouettes for mythical creatures! Sadly, they're now endangered, making them one of the few animals whose English name we borrowed right before we nearly destroyed them.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.