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caracal

American  
[kar-uh-kal] / ˈkær əˌkæl /

noun

  1. a slender, catlike mammal, Lynx caracal, with a reddish-brown coat and long tufted ears, inhabiting northern Africa and India.

  2. the fur of this animal.


caracal British  
/ ˈkærəˌkæl /

noun

  1. Also called: desert lynx.  a lynxlike feline mammal, Lynx caracal, inhabiting deserts of N Africa and S Asia, having long legs, a smooth coat of reddish fur, and black-tufted ears

  2. the fur of this animal

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of caracal

1750–60; < French, apparently Buffon's adaption of Turkish karakulak lynx ( kara black + kulak ear)

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

During her court case with PETA, Haddix declared that she makes approximately $80,000 per year selling creatures like caracal wildcats, Asian small-clawed otters, Egyptian fruit bats and African crested porcupines.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 1, 2024

This area – spanning parts of modern-day Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Iran and more – is home to numerous small cats, including the caracal, serval, jungle cat and sand cat.

From Salon • Aug. 11, 2023

A striking image of a caracal hunting flamingo in Tanzania has won first prize in the 2022 Nature TTL Photographer of the Year competition.

From BBC • Aug. 10, 2022

In a related thread, a user commented, “Feds are not looking post floppa,” accompanied by a picture of a popular Russian caracal who has gained an internet following under the name “Big Floppa.”

From The Verge • Jun. 23, 2022

The caracal was half again as large—the height of a goat—and was a much bolder creature.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

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