English Explanatory Dictionary

Tarzan

English dictionary entry

Meanings

name
  1. A heroic fictional character, raised from a baby to adulthood in the African jungle by apes.
noun
  1. A strong wild man; any man showing attributes of Tarzan, as muscularity, agility, etc.
verb
  1. To behave in the manner of Tarzan, especially by swinging from ropes, climbing trees, and other feats of athleticism.

Pronunciation

/ˈtɑɹzæn/

Word forms

Tarzan Tarzans Tarzaning Tarzaned

Etymology

Coined by Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1912. A name created by Burroughs for his fiction. In the fictional ape language of the books, "tarzan" means "white-skin"; possibly echoic in its phonetics of various "exotic" names (see Orientalism).

Derived words

out-Tarzan Tarzana Tarzan English Tarzanese Tarzanesque Tarzanian Tarzaniana Tarzanic Tarzanish Tarzanism Tarzanist Tarzan-like Tarzan-speak Tarzan swing Tarzany Tarzan yell Tarzan yodel
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