Cannibalistic
/ˌkæn.ɪ.bəˈlɪs.tɪk/noun
Relating to or characterized by cannibalism, the eating of the flesh of one’s own species.
Did you know?The root of this word traces to Spanish reports of the Caribs, filtered through a misunderstood name, so a word now meaning flesh-eating began as a European label for “people they feared.”
Etymological Timeline
Late 15th Century
Spanish
caníbal
“A supposed flesh-eating person, especially a Carib; later generalized to any man-eater.”
Late 15th Century
Spanish/Latin
caniba / canibalis
“A form tied to Columbus-era reports of the people of Cuba or the Caribbean, reinterpreted as a savage man-eating tribe.”
16th Century
French
cannibale
“A man-eater; cannibal.”
16th Century
English
cannibal
“A person who eats human flesh.”
17th Century
English
cannibalistic
“Having the nature of cannibalism; relating to or characteristic of cannibals.”