• Retromingent

    Pronunciation

    • UK IPA: /ɹɛtɹə(ÊŠ)ˈmɪndÊ’É™nt/

    Origin

    From retro- + past participle of Latin mingō ("I urinate").

    Full definition of retromingent

    Noun

    retromingent

    (plural retromingents)
    1. (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

    1. (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."
    2. (slang) cowardly
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