aardwolf

[ ahrd-woolf ]

noun

, plural aard·wolves.

1. a striped, hyenalike mammal, Proteles cristatus, of southern and eastern Africa, that feeds chiefly on insects.

aardwolf

/ ˈɑːdˌwʊlf /

noun

1. a nocturnal mammal, Proteles cristatus, that inhabits the plains of southern Africa and feeds on termites and insect larvae: family Hyaenidae (hyenas), order Carnivora (carnivores)

Word History and Origins

Origin of aardwolf¹

1825–35; < Afrikaans erdwolf < Dutch aardwolf, equivalent to aarde earth + wolf wolf

Word History and Origins

Origin of aardwolf¹

C19: from Afrikaans, from aarde earth + wolf wolf