mongoose

mongoose
Ichneumon Ich*neu"mon, n. [L., fr. Gr. ?, lit., the tracker; so called because it hunts out the eggs of the crocodile, fr. ? to track or hunt after, fr. 'i`chnos track, footstep.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any carnivorous mammal of the genus {Herpestes}, and family {Viverrid[ae]}. Numerous species are found in Asia and Africa. The Egyptian species ({Herpestes ichneumon}), which ranges to Spain and Palestine, is noted for destroying the eggs and young of the crocodile as well as various snakes and lizards, and hence was considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians. The common species of India ({Herpestes griseus}), known as the {mongoose}, has similar habits and is often domesticated. It is noted for killing the cobra. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) Any hymenopterous insect of the family {Ichneumonid[ae]}, of which several thousand species are known, belonging to numerous genera. [1913 Webster]

Note: The female deposits her eggs upon, or in, the bodies of other insects, such as caterpillars, plant lice, etc. The larva lives upon the internal tissues of the insect in which it is parasitic, and finally kills it. Hence, many of the species are beneficial to agriculture by destroying noxious insects. [1913 Webster]

{Ichneumon fly}. See {Ichneumon}, 2. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Mongoose — Mon goose, Mongoos Mon goos, n.; pl. {Mongooses} 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A species of ichneumon ({Herpestes griseus}), native of India. Applied also to other allied species, as the African banded mongoose ({Crossarchus fasciatus}). [Written also {mungoose} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • mongoose — (n.) snake killing ichneumon of India, 1690s, perhaps via Portuguese, from an Indic language (Cf. Mahrathi mangus mongoose ), probably ultimately from Dravidian (Cf. Telugu mangisu, Kanarese mungisi, Tamil mangus). The form of the English word… …   Etymology dictionary

  • mongoose — the small animal like a civet, has the plural form mongooses …   Modern English usage

  • mongoose — ► NOUN (pl. mongooses) ▪ a small carnivorous mammal with a long body and tail, native to Africa and Asia. ORIGIN Marathi (a central Indian language) …   English terms dictionary

  • mongoose — [mäŋ′go͞os΄, män′go͞os΄] n. pl. mongooses [Marathi mangūs] any of various civetlike, Old World carnivores (family Viverridae); esp., any of a sometimes domesticated genus (Herpestes) noted for their ability to kill poisonous snakes, rodents, etc …   English World dictionary

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  • mongoose — /mong goohs , mon /, n., pl. mongooses. 1. a slender, ferretlike carnivore, Herpestes edwardsi, of India, that feeds on rodents, birds, and eggs, noted esp. for its ability to kill cobras and other venomous snakes. 2. any of several other animals …   Universalium

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