Mangouste
/mɑ̃.ɡust/noun
The French word for a mongoose, a small carnivorous mammal known for hunting snakes.
Did you know?The mongoose’s reputation as a snake fighter helped make it a recurring symbol of cunning and protection in popular storytelling, although its resistance to venom is limited rather than magical.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
muṅgūṣa
“A mongoose”
Medieval Indo-Aryan
Marathi
mūṅgūs
“A mongoose; the form associated with later European borrowings”
16th Century
Portuguese
mangusto
“A mongoose, borrowed during Portuguese contact with South Asia”
16th–17th Century
French
mangouste
“A mongoose; adapted from Portuguese or related European forms”
Modern French
French
mangouste
“Mongoose, the standard modern French noun”