coyote

[ kahy-oh-tee, kahy-oht ]

noun

, plural coy·o·tes, (especially collectively) coy·o·te.

1. Also called prairie wolf. a buffy-gray, wolflike canid, Canis latrans, of North America, distinguished from the wolf by its relatively small size and its slender build, large ears, and narrow muzzle.
2. Slang. a contemptible person, especially an avaricious or dishonest one.
3. American Indian Legend. the coyote regarded as a culture hero and trickster by American Indian tribes of the West.
4. Slang. a person who smuggles immigrants, especially Latin Americans, into the U.S. for a fee.

coyote

/ ˈkɔɪəʊt; kɔɪˈəʊtɪ; kɔɪˈəʊt /

noun

1. Also calledprairie wolf a predatory canine mammal, Canis latrans, related to but smaller than the wolf, roaming the deserts and prairies of North America
2. (in Native American legends of the West) a trickster and culture hero represented as a man or as an animal

Word History and Origins

Origin of coyote¹

1825–35; earlier cuiota, cayota < Mexican Spanish coyote < Nahuatl coyōtl

Word History and Origins

Origin of coyote¹

C19: from Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl coyotl

Example Sentences

Some videos show coyotes walking through driveways, right under basketball hoops.

From Popular-Science

They actively communicated with one another—not unlike the coyote and badger who starred in a viral video last year, with the coyote making a distinctive canine play bow to invite the badger along.

From Nautilus

Many red wolves lost their lives through run-ins with cars or when they were shot by people who mistook them for coyotes.

From Washington Post

Another sticky situation that could have contributed to the dire wolf’s demise is the introduction of more modern-day dire wolf-like species, such as wolves and coyotes, and the diseases they may have brought along with them.

From Popular-Science

He’s curious about the way animals think and move, including his four dogs, as well as ants, earthworms and the coyotes that gobble pecans from nearby trees.

From Washington Post

He hoped it made him look like a coyote hunter, out for bounties.

From The Daily Beast

Every once in awhile somebody spotted a coyote scurrying past along the side of the road, and the whole bus leaped in its seat.

From The Daily Beast

Wile E. Coyote is running after the Road Runner and eventually finds he has run off a cliff.

From The Daily Beast

To accomplish this goal, Netanyahu used a simple chart that looked like a Wile E. Coyote bomb.

From The Daily Beast

Like Wile E. Coyote, they will keep running until everyone else recognizes that there is no ground beneath their feet.

From The Daily Beast

There followed a yelp, and the animal—coyote or wolf—could be heard scurrying away.

From Project Gutenberg

As Gale and Phyllis lay down on their bed of boughs in the tent with Valerie, a coyote howled dismally in the distance.

From Project Gutenberg

But on general principles it is my opinion that a colt out of a coyote and a wild-cat is no square dog, but doubtful.

From Project Gutenberg

But the Coyote smelled the blood of the Deer and was beside himself with hunger.

From Project Gutenberg

Coyote began the creation of the earth, but Eagle completed it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• mutt
• pooch
• pup