mongoose
[ mong-goos, mon- ]
/ ˈmɒŋˌgus, ˈmɒn- /
noun, plural mon·goos·es.
a slender, ferretlike carnivore, Herpestes edwardsi, of India, that feeds on rodents, birds, and eggs, noted especially for its ability to kill cobras and other venomous snakes.
any of several other animals of this genus or related genera.
Origin of mongoose
1690–1700; < Marathi
mangūs, variant of
muṅgūs
Words nearby mongoose
mongolian people's republic,
mongolian spot,
mongolic,
mongolism,
mongoloid,
mongoose,
mongrel,
mongrelize,
mongst,
mongu,
monial
Example sentences from the Web for mongoose
British Dictionary definitions for mongoose
mongoose
/ (ˈmɒŋˌɡuːs) /
noun plural -gooses
any small predatory viverrine mammal of the genus Herpestes and related genera, occurring in Africa and from S Europe to SE Asia, typically having a long tail and brindled coat
Word Origin for mongoose
C17: from Marathi
mangūs, of Dravidian origin