アナグマ
解説 Definition
「アナグマ」を表す名詞です。
A badger is a sturdy, short-legged, burrowing mammal of the weasel family, typically recognized by contrasting facial markings. It is generally active at night and lives in an underground den, often called a sett.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
名詞 badger は、地面に穴を掘り、sett と呼ばれる巣穴で暮らす「アナグマ」。a badger digging a burrow の場面で覚える。同じ綴りの動詞は「しつこくせがむ」だが、ここでは動物の語義。badge との歴史的な関連は提案されているものの確定的ではないため、綴りの近さは補助的な手掛かりにする。
Picture a badger as a sturdy animal digging a burrow and disappearing into its underground home, called a sett. This scene connects the word with its most typical behavior and habitat. The same spelling also occurs as a verb meaning to repeatedly pressure or annoy someone, but the entry here is the animal noun. Badge looks and sounds somewhat similar, and a historical connection involving the animal’s facial marking has been proposed, but it is not certain, so use that resemblance only as a secondary memory aid.
例文
A badger was spotted digging a burrow in the garden early in the morning.
早朝、アナグマが庭で巣穴を掘っているのが目撃された。
We saw a badger searching for food at dusk.
私たちは夕暮れ時に餌を探しているアナグマを見た。
The badger retreated into its sett when it sensed danger nearby.
アナグマは近くに危険を感じると巣穴に退いた。
badger の類義語・関連語
badger の語源・成り立ち Etymology
badger は近代初期の英語に現れ、それ以前からあった brock に代わって広まりました。詳しい語源は確定していません。額の白い模様を badge（記章）に見立てた名称だとする説がありますが、確証はありません。動詞の「しつこく悩ませる」という意味は、かつての badger-baiting（アナグマいじめ）との関連が指摘されています。
Badger appeared in English in the early modern period, replacing the older name brock in many contexts. Its deeper origin is uncertain. One proposed explanation connects it with badge, perhaps referring to the conspicuous pale marking on the animal’s forehead, but this account is not established beyond doubt. The later verb meaning “to pester” is associated with the former practice of badger-baiting.
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