capybara

or cap·i·ba·ra

[ kap-uh-bahr-uh ]

noun
  1. a South American tailless rodent, Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris, living along the banks of rivers and lakes, having partly webbed feet: the largest living rodent.

Origin of capybara

1
1765–75; <New Latin <Portuguese capibara<Tupi

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British Dictionary definitions for capybara

capybara

/ (ˌkæpɪˈbɑːrə) /


noun
  1. the largest rodent: a pig-sized amphibious hystricomorph, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, resembling a guinea pig and inhabiting river banks in Central and South America: family Hydrochoeridae

Origin of capybara

1
C18: from Portuguese capibara, from Tupi

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