Neanderthal

Pronunciation

• UK enPR: nÄ“.ănʹdÉ™.täl', IPA: /niːˈæn.dəˌtɑːl/,

• US enPR: nÄ“.ănʹdÉ™r.thäl', IPA: /niːˈæn.dɚˌθɑːl/; enPR: nÄ“.ănʹdÉ™r.täl', IPA: /niːˈæn.dɚˌtɑːl/,

Origin

From the name of the German valley where Neanderthal 1 was discovered in 1856. The Düsseltal (from German Düssel, a small tributary of the + tal ("valley")) itself was renamed (from Das Gesteins ("The Rockiness") and/or Das Hundsklipp ("The Cliff of Dogs")) in the early 19

th

century to Neandershöhle ("Neander’s Hollow"), and again in 1850 to Neanderthal ("Neander Valley"); both names were in honour of the German Calvinist theologian and hymn writer Joachim Neander (1650–1680). The surname Neander is a Romanisation of the translation of the original German surname Neumann ("New man"), for which reason Homo neanderthalensis is sometimes called New man in English.

Full definition of neanderthal

Adjective

1. Primitive, old-fashioned, opposed to change (in allusion to the now extinct species Homo neanderthalensis).

Alternative forms

• Neanderthal
• Neandertal

Noun

1. (pejorative) A primitive person or a person with old-fashioned ideas or who opposes change.
2. (usually Neanderthal) A specimen of the now extinct species Homo neanderthalensis.

Alternative forms

• Neanderthal
• Neandertal