Neanderthal

Etymology

From German Neanderthal, now spelled Neandertal, the name of a valley (German Tal, older also spelled Thal) near Düsseldorf where the first Neanderthal was discovered in 1856. A hollow near the valley was known as Neanderhöhle (“Neander Hollow”) and Neandershöhle (“Neander’s Hollow”) in the early 19th century, and the valley had been renamed to Neanderthal in 1850, in honour of the German Calvinist theologian and hymn writer Joachim Neander (1650–1680). Before, the valley was known as das Gesteins (“The Rocks”) and Hundsklipp (“Dog Cliff”).

The name of Joachim Neander is based on the Ancient Greek translation of his original surname Neumann (“Newman”). For this reason Homo neanderthalensis is sometimes called New man in English.

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: nē.ănʹdə.täl', IPA^(key): /niːˈæn.dəˌtɑːl/,^[1]
• (US) enPR: nē.ănʹdər.thäl', IPA^(key): /niːˈæn.dɚˌθɑːl/; enPR: nē.ănʹdər.täl', IPA^(key): /niːˈæn.dɚˌtɑːl/,^[1], IPA^(key): /niˈændəɹθəl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

Neanderthal (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to Homines neanderthalenses.

   The capacity of the Neanderthal skull was 10% larger than that of modern humans.

2. Old-fashioned, opposed to change (in allusion to Homo neanderthalensis).
3. Of or pertaining to the Neander Valley in Germany.

Noun

Neanderthal (plural Neanderthals)

1. A specimen of the now extinct species Homo neanderthalensis.
2. (pejorative) A primitive person.

References