dassie

American  

[das-ee, dah-see] / ˈdæs i, ˈdɑ si /

noun

1. hyrax.

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dassie British  

/ ˈdæsɪ /

noun

1. another name for a hyrax, esp the rock hyrax

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Etymology

Origin of dassie

1780–90; < Afrikaans, diminutive of das; das

Example Sentences

One excellent reason for living close to dassies was that they would give a swift warning of anything dangerous in the neighborhood.

From Literature

It is only the second time the small animals, also known as the rock rabbit or dassie, have reproduced since arriving at the safari park in 2012.

From BBC

The dassies too—watchful, silent and rubber-footed—played hide-and-seek with them in the cracks and crevices; but the dogs had no chance there.

From Project Gutenberg

The shrill, piercing cry of a “dassie,” or rock coney, arose from out the deep silence, and the dogs stopping, howled dismally, then suddenly turned and slipped away, disappearing like shadows among the trees.

From Project Gutenberg

She poked sticky cotton into tiny gaps with a sliver of dassie bone.

From Literature