Retromingent
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ɹɛtɹə(ʊ)ˈmɪndʒənt/
Origin
From retro- + past participle of Latin mingÅ ("I urinate").
Full definition of retromingent
Noun
retromingent
(plural retromingents)- (obsolete) An animal that urinates backwards - such as the camel, hippo or raccoon.
- 1646, Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, III.17:I confess by reason of the postick and backward position of the feminine parts in quadrupedes, they can hardly admit the substitution of a protrusion, effectuall unto masculine generation; except it be in Retromingents, and such as couple backward.
Adjective
retromingent
- (not comparable) That urinates backwards; also used of such urination.
- 1958, Lawrence Durrell, Mountolive:It sat down at last and, as if to express once and for all its disenchantment with the whole sum of canine existence, delivered itself of a retromingent puddle on the beautiful Shiraz.
- 2006, Danny Baker, "When the spit hits the fan", The Times, 17 Apr 2006:"Additionally, camels are retromingent animals, and so spectators would be advised to beware not only of flying saliva but of pitched urine as well."
- (slang) cowardly