chevrotain

American  

[shev-ruh-teyn, -tin] / ˈʃɛv rəˌteɪn, -tɪn /

noun

1. any very small, deerlike ruminant of the family Tragulidae, of Africa, tropical Asia, the Malay Peninsula, etc.

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chevrotain British  

/ ˈʃɛvrəˌteɪn, -tɪn /

noun

1. Also called: mouse deer.  any small timid ruminant artiodactyl mammal of the genera Tragulus and Hyemoschus, of S and SE Asia: family Tragulidae. They resemble rodents, and the males have long tusklike upper canines

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Etymology

Origin of chevrotain

< French, apparently Buffon's alteration of chevrotin roe deer under the age of six months, equivalent to Middle French chevrot kid ( chevre goat ( chevon ) + -ot diminutive suffix) + -in -ine ¹

Example Sentences

Regarding the chevrotain, “we got the first photographic evidence that the species still exists,” said Andy Tilker, Re:wild’s Asian species officer.

From Washington Post

The baby chevrotain, born on Nov. 10, is the size of a large matchbox and weighs around 100 grams.

From Reuters

Conservationists said they plan to put camera traps in two additional areas to figure out the size and stability of this population of chevrotains, as well as threats to their survival.

From Washington Post

Tilker says people living near the forests were aware of the silver-backed chevrotain’s existence, and helped the researchers to plant camera traps in places the animal was likely to visit.

From Nature

Researchers had no reason to think the silver-backed chevrotain had gone extinct.

From Seattle Times