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    How did the "kangaroo" get its name?

    Question #61096. Asked by my_baby_love. (Dec 18 05 4:39 PM)


    JoshCaleb12

    		From the much-maligned Wikipedia we get...

    "The word 'kangaroo' is said to derive from the Guugu Yimidhirr (an Australian Aboriginal language) word 'gangurru,' referring to the Grey Kangaroo. The name was first recorded as 'kangaru' by Joseph Banks on James Cook's first voyage of exploration, when they were beached at the mouth of the Endeavour River in the harbour of modern Cooktown for almost 7 weeks repairing their ship which had been damaged on the Great Barrier Reef.

    'Kangaroo' soon became adopted into standard English where it has come to mean any member of the family of kangaroos and wallabies."


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo

    Dec 18 05, 4:58 PM
    gmackematix

    		The following contains a discussion about the famous "I don't understand" story regarding the kangaroo:
    http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_236.html

    Dec 18 05, 8:10 PM

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