behemoth(n.)
14世纪晚期,指《约伯记》中的巨兽,源自拉丁语 behemoth,来自希伯来语 b'hemoth,通常被认为是 b'hemah “野兽”的强调复数形式。但是,希伯来语单词可能是埃及语 pehemau 的民间词源,字面意思是“水牛”,是河马的名称。现代英语中用于指任何巨大的野兽。
Long before Jumbo was dreamed of, a hippo was exhibited by George K. Bailey, who invented the tank on wheels now used so generally in the circuses. The beast was advertised as "the blood sweating Behemoth of Holy Writ," and he made several men rich. [Isaac F. Marcosson, "Sawdust and Gold Dust," in The Bookman, June 1910]
早在乔姆博(Jumbo)被想象出来之前,乔治·K·贝利(George K. Bailey)就展出了一只河马,他发明了现在马戏团中普遍使用的轮式水槽。这只野兽被宣传为“圣经中流血的巨兽 Behemoth”,他让几个人致富了。[艾萨克·F·马科森(Isaac F. Marcosson),“锯末和金末”,《书人》(The Bookman),1910年6月]
该词起源时间:14世纪末