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castor

beaver

noun kas-TOR Rare

Origin: Latin 'castor'

Usage Note

Castor is the beaver, known in France for its historic role in the fur trade and as an ecological engineer of wetlands. The word also gives its name to huile de castor (castor oil), derived from the beaver's scent glands before being applied to the plant Ricinus communis. The constellation Castor is a separate etymological line via Greek mythology.

Examples

"Le castor construisait un barrage sur la rivière."

Natural Translation

The beaver was building a dam on the river.

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