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A.Word.A.Day--tautonym

tautonym (TAU-tuh-nim) noun

A scientific name in which the generic and the specific names are the same, as Chloris chloris (the greenfinch).

[Greek tautxnymos of the same name, equiv. to tauto- + -nymos named.]

"The name of the Bank Swallow becomes the tautonym Riparia riparia."
Elliott Coues; 100 years ago in the Auk: Notes on generic names of certain Swallows; The Auk; Jul 1, 1998.

This week's theme: words about words.

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