cavy

[ key-vee ]

/ ˈkeɪ vi /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cavy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural ca·vies.

any of several short-tailed or tailless South American rodents of the family Caviidae, as the guinea pig, capybara, or agouti.

Nearby words

Origin of cavy

1790–1800; < New Latin Cavia name of the genus < Carib (Galibi) cabiai

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cavy

A few guanaco and ostriches, a sprinkling of cavy, and many pampa foxes seemed to eke out an existence there.
Through the Heart of Patagonia|H. Hesketh Prichard
The nest was of dry grass and lined with the fur of the cavy.
Argentine Ornithology, Volume I (of 2)|P. L. Sclater
The River Deseado forms the southern limit of the distribution of the Patagonian cavy.
Through the Heart of Patagonia|H. Hesketh Prichard
For laboratories, experimental purposes, etc., it is the smooth-haired Cavy that is in most demand.
The Raising and Care of Guinea Pigs|A. C. Smith

This is one of the most common troubles that a Cavy raiser has to contend with.
The Raising and Care of Guinea Pigs|A. C. Smith

British Dictionary definitions for cavy

cavy

/ (ˈkeɪvɪ) /

noun plural -vies

any small South American hystricomorph rodent of the family Caviidae, esp any of the genus Cavia, having a thickset body and very small tailSee also guinea pig

Word Origin for cavy

C18: from New Latin Cavia, from Galibi cabiai

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

cavy

noun, plural ca·vies.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of cavy

Examples from the Web for cavy

cavy

noun plural -vies

Word Origin for cavy