Cannibal /(?)/

Can·ni·bal

Cannibal

n.

[Cf. F. cannibale. Columbus, in a letter to the Spanish monarchs written in Oct., 1498, mentions that the people of Haiti lived in great fear of the Caribales (equivalent to E. Caribbees.), the inhabitants of the smaller Antilles; which form of the name was afterward changed into NL. Canibales, in order to express more forcibly their character by a word intelligible through a Latin root “propter rabiem caninam anthropophagorum gentis.” The Caribbees call themselves, in their own language. Calinago, Carinago, Calliponam, and, abbreviated, Calina, signifying a brave, from which Columbus formed his Caribales.]

A human being that eats human flesh; hence, any that devours its own kind.

Cannibal

a.

Relating to cannibals or cannibalism.

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