bilby

American  

[bil-bee] / ˈbɪl bi /

Or bilbi

noun

plural

bilbies

1. rabbit-eared bandicoot.

---

bilby British  

/ ˈbɪlbɪ /

noun

1. Also called: rabbit bandicoot.   dalgyte.  a burrowing marsupial of the genus Macrotis of Australia having long pointed ears and grey fur

---

Etymology

Origin of bilby

First recorded in 1900–05; from Yuwaalaraay (an Australian Aboriginal language of northern New South Wales) bilbi

Example Sentences

"In Australia, feral cats were most likely the principal cause of extinction of the pig-footed bandicoot, central hare-wallaby, desert bandicoot, lesser bilby and long-tailed hopping-mouse, amongst others."

From Salon • Nov. 26, 2023

It’s a dead greater bilby, or at least what is left of one.

From Science Magazine • May 15, 2019

The native fauna are often easy prey because they haven’t evolved to recognize and dodge the invaders, and medium-size mammals like the bilby have fared worst.

From Science Magazine • May 15, 2019

The greater bilby, a ground-dwelling marsupial, handles the heat by going, well, down under.

From National Geographic • Aug. 5, 2017

As the usually quite staid Washington Post pointed out, "This one in particular is from that amazing day where George was thrilled to meet his namesake bilby at a local zoo."

From The Guardian • Jul. 11, 2014