roofdier

Afrikaans

Etymology

From Dutch roofdier, which might be a calque of German Raubtier. Equivalent to roof (“to rob, to capture”) +‎ dier (“animal”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈrʊə̯f.dir/

Noun

roofdier (plural roofdiere, diminutive roofdiertjie)

1. A predator

Dutch

Etymology

From roven (“to rob, to capture”) +‎ dier (“animal”), perhaps a calque of German Raubtier. Compare roven.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈroːf.diːr/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: roof‧dier

Noun

roofdier n (plural roofdieren, diminutive roofdiertje n)

1. A predatory species, which kills and eats prey. [from early 18th c.]
2. A ruthless person, without regard for victims.
3. A carnivore, which also includes scavengers.

   Synonyms: vleeseter, carnivoor

4. A carnivoran, any member of the order Carnivora.

Derived terms

• landroofdier
• nachtroofdier
• roofdierachtig
• toproofdier
• zeeroofdier

Descendants

• Afrikaans: roofdier
• → West Frisian: rôfdier