Adjacent Words

hyaena definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: doglike nocturnal mammal of Africa and southern Asia that feeds chiefly on carrion [syn: hyena, hyaena]

Oxford Reference Dictionary

var. of HYENA.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Hyaena Hy*[ae]"na, n. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Hyena.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Hyena Hy*e"na, n.; pl. Hyenas. [L. hyaena, Gr. ?, orig., a sow, but usually, a Libyan wild beast, prob., the hyena, fr. ? hog: cf. F. hy[`e]ne. See Sow female hog.] (Zo["o]l.) Any carnivorous mammal of the family Hy[ae]nid[ae], of which three living species are known. They are large and strong, but cowardly. They feed chiefly on carrion, and are nocturnal in their habits. [Written also hy[ae]na.] Note: The striped hyena (Hy[ae]na striata) inhabits Southern Asia and a large part of Africa. The brown hyena (H. brunnea), and the spotted hyena (Crocuta maculata), are found in Southern Africa. The extinct cave hyena (H. spel[ae]a) inhabited England and France. Cave hyena. See under Cave. Hyena dog (Zo["o]l.), a South African canine animal (Lycaon venaticus), which hunts in packs, chiefly at night. It is smaller than the common wolf, with very large, erect ears, and a bushy tail. Its color is reddish or yellowish brown, blotched with black and white. Called also hunting dog.