jaguarundi

[ jah-gwuh-ruhn-dee, -gyoo-uh-, jag-wuh-, -yoo-uh- ]

noun

, plural ja·gua·run·dis.

1. a long-bodied and long-tailed tropical wildcat, Felis yagouaroundi, having a brownish-gray coat and a second color phase of reddish-brown: now reduced in number and endangered in some areas.

Word History and Origins

Origin of jaguarundi¹

1880–85; < Portuguese < Guarani jaguarundy wildcat