chevrotain

[ shev-ruh-teyn, -tin ]
/ ˈʃɛv rəˌteɪn, -tɪn /

noun

any very small, deerlike ruminant of the family Tragulidae, of Africa, tropical Asia, the Malay Peninsula, etc.
Also called mouse deer.

Origin of chevrotain

< French, apparently Buffon's alteration of chevrotin roe deer under the age of six months, equivalent to Middle French chevrot kid ( chevre goat (see chevon) + -ot diminutive suffix) + -in -ine1

Words nearby chevrotain

chevon, chevra kadisha, chevrette, chevron, chevronel, chevrotain, chevy, chevy chase, chew, chew out, chew over

British Dictionary definitions for chevrotain

chevrotain
/ (ˈʃɛvrəˌteɪn, -tɪn) /

noun

any small timid ruminant artiodactyl mammal of the genera Tragulus and Hyemoschus, of S and SE Asia: family Tragulidae. They resemble rodents, and the males have long tusklike upper canines Also called: mouse deer

Word Origin for chevrotain

C18: from French, from Old French chevrot kid, from chèvre goat, from Latin capra, feminine of caper goat