Crinifer
KRIN-ih-fer
Genus
one who bears (or carries) a mane of hair
Literally: hair-bearer
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crini- | the hair | Latin (crini, =s) | Stem of Latin crinis (3rd declension, stem crin-); the -i- here is both the natural stem vowel and the connecting vowel that joins it to -fer |
| -fer | bear, carry | Latin (fer) | Standard Latin compounding suffix from ferre; produces agent nouns meaning 'bearer/carrier of …' |
Crinifer is a Latin compound treated as a masculine noun of the second declension (genus names ending in -er). The stem crin- (from crinis, 'hair') is joined by the stem vowel -i- to the agent suffix -fer (from ferre, 'to bear'), giving the sense 'hair-bearer' or 'mane-bearer'. The name alludes to the long, shaggy, mane-like crests of the go-away birds (family Musophagidae) placed in this genus. It stands alone as a uninominal genus name with no epithet to agree with grammatically.
Pronunciation
- KRIN-ih-fer Antepenult stress: the penult syllable (-ni-) has a short vowel followed by only one consonant (f), so none of the penult-stress rules apply; stress therefore retreats to the antepenult (KRIN-). The antepenult vowel is short (i followed by a single consonant and then -i-, not two vowels).
Other readings
A secondary read of crin- could invoke the Greek root crin/crino- ('a lily; separate'), but the Latin crini- ('hair') is strongly preferred given the bird's conspicuous crest and the clear Latin -fer suffix.
crini, =s is confirmed in the dictionary as Latin for 'the hair' (entry id 1593). fer is confirmed in the dictionary as Latin for 'bear, carry' (entry id 2329). Crinifer is a genus of go-away birds (order Musophagiformes) native to sub-Saharan Africa; species include Crinifer piscator (western grey plantain-eater). The 'mane' referred to is the bird's prominent, shaggy crest.