chalicothere

[ kal-i-koh-theer ]
/ ˈkæl ɪ koʊˌθɪər /

noun

a horselike fossil of the genus Chalicotherium and related genera, common in Europe, Asia, and Africa during the Tertiary Period, having a sloping back and three-toed, clawed feet.

Origin of chalicothere

< New Latin Chalicotherium (1833) < Greek chalik-, stem of chálix gravel + -o- -o- + thēríon -there

British Dictionary definitions for chalicothere

chalicothere
/ (ˈkælɪkəʊˌθɪə) /

noun

any of various very large extinct Tertiary horselike perissodactyl mammals that had clawed feet but otherwise resembled titanotheres

Word Origin for chalicothere

C19: from New Latin Chalicotherium type genus, from Greek khalix gravel + Greek thērion a little beast, from thēr wild animal

Scientific definitions for chalicothere

chalicothere
[ kălĭ-kə-thîr′ ]

Any of various large extinct mammals of the family Chalicotheriidae of the Eocene to the Pleistocene Epochs. Chalicotheres were odd-toed ungulates related to horses, rhinos, and tapirs, and had three toes on each foot ending in distinctive curved claws rather than hooves. Some species had front claws so long that they walked on their knuckles.