agouti

American  

[uh-goo-tee] / əˈgu ti /

Rarely agouty

noun

plural

agoutis, agouties

1. any of several short-haired, short-eared, rabbitlike rodents of the genus Dasyprocta, of South and Central America and the West Indies, destructive to sugarcane.

2. an irregularly barred pattern of the fur of certain rodents.

3. an animal having fur of this pattern.

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agouti British  

/ əˈɡuːtɪ /

noun

1. any hystricomorph rodent of the genus Dasyprocta, of Central and South America and the Caribbean: family Dasyproctidae. Agoutis are agile and long-legged, with hooflike claws, and are valued for their meat

2. a pattern of fur in certain rodents, characterized by irregular stripes

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Etymology

Origin of agouti

First recorded in 1725–35; from French, from Spanish agutí, from Tupian agutí, agoutí, acutí

Example Sentences

The nine-banded armadillo and Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth followed, while the Central American agouti came in fourth.

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2023

Thus, forest conservation efforts must target the tree, the agouti, and the jaguar.

From Slate • Apr. 10, 2020

One key souvenir from that mating: a jackrabbit version of agouti, the gene that normally revs up its activity and turns snowshoe fur white in the winter, the researchers report today in Science.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 21, 2018

Clair says the red-rumped agouti, like all the zoo’s animals, is under veterinary care and is properly vaccinated.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 22, 2018

The golden agouti, like the rhinoceros, was in need of companionship.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel