ngina

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Native West African name; what language?”)

Noun

ngina (plural nginas)

1. (dated) The gorilla.
   • 1902, Percy Watkins Myles, James Britten, George Simonds Boulger, The Selborne magazine and "Nature notes", volume 13:

     It traverses the whole range of animal life in tropical Africa, from the ngina or gorilla to the butterflies and ants: he makes the animals tell their own stories; and his text is illustrated with some telling drawings.

   • 1914, Paul Belloni Du Chaillu, In African forest and jungle:

     The nginas can see wonderfully well through the jungle.

Anagrams

• Naing, Niang