coypu
[ koi-poo ]
/ ˈkɔɪ pu /
noun, plural coy·pus, (especially collectively) coy·pu.
a large, South American, aquatic rodent, Myocastor (or Myopotamus) coypus, yielding the fur nutria.
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Origin of coypu
1785–95; <American Spanish coipú<Araucanian coipu
Words nearby coypu
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for coypu
Another animal that is at least in one respect allied to the 'possum is the coypu.
The Gold Diggings of Cape Horn|John R. SpearsOne was the common Magellan otter (Lutra felina), the other a nutria (Myopotamus coypu).
Cruise of the 'Alert'|R. W. CoppingerCoypu are abundant in the fresh waters of South America, even small ponds being often tenanted by one or more pairs.
British Dictionary definitions for coypu
coypu
/ (ˈkɔɪpuː) /
noun plural -pus or -pu
an aquatic South American hystricomorph rodent, Myocastor coypus, introduced into Europe: family Capromyidae. It resembles a small beaver with a ratlike tail and is bred in captivity for its soft grey underfur
the fur of this animal
Also called: nutria
Word Origin for coypu
C18: from American Spanish coipú, from Araucanian kóypu
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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