river horse

noun

1. a hippopotamus.

river horse

noun

1. See hippopotamus
   an informal name for the hippopotamus

Word History and Origins

Origin of river horse¹

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

The river horse couches there among the bulrushes, and on a great granite throne sits the God Memnon.

From Project Gutenberg

The sphinx, river-horse, and crocodile, denote the climate and manufacture of Egypt and the spoils of that ancient province.

From Project Gutenberg

Even the huge river-horse of Africa would be swept off his feet and tossed to the surface like one of its froth-flakes.

From Project Gutenberg

The explosive balls had both flown true to the mark, invariably a fatal one in the case of the river horse.

From Project Gutenberg

Liverpool started and snorted like a river-horse roused amongst his reeds by thunder.

From Project Gutenberg