stambecco

Italian

FWOTD – 14 January 2013

Etymology

From Middle High German steinboc. The Italian -a- may be a reduction of the [aɪ̯] in Standard German Steinbock or it could go back to a Bavarian dialect where Middle High German -ei- becomes [aː]; compare contemporary Bavarian Staabock (alongside Stoabock). The Italian -e- after becco, itself perhaps of Germanic origin.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /stamˈbek.ko/
  • Rhymes: -ekko
  • Hyphenation: stam‧béc‧co

Noun

stambecco m (plural stambecchi, feminine stambecca)

  1. ibex (mammal)
    • 2007, Guido Piovene, Viaggio in Italia, Baldini Castoldi Dalai Edito, page 203:
      Mi dicono le guardie che ogni stambecco ha il suo pascolo riservato, […]
      The guards tell me that every ibex has his reserved pasture, […]
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