ichneumon
Americannoun
-
Also called African mongoose, Egyptian mongoose. a slender, long-tailed mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon, inhabiting Africa and southern Europe, and believed by the ancient Egyptians to devour crocodile eggs.
noun
Etymology
Origin of ichneumon
1565–75; < Latin < Greek ichneúmōn tracker, equivalent to ichneú ( ein ) to track ( see ichno-) + -mōn agent suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The ichneumon wasp was a challenge to Darwin’s already diminishing faith.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 12, 2016
And though it isn’t a beetle, the elegant pipe cleaner, an ichneumon wasp, looks as if it’s preening for its first portrait as a principal ballet dancer.
From New York Times ● Dec. 2, 2013
The girls recovered on cerumen, chaffinch and ichneumon.
From Time Magazine Archive
Captain Brown records an experiment in which the ichneumon was placed in a room with a poisonous serpent which it tried to avoid.
From Natural History in Anecdote Illustrating the nature, habits, manners and customs of animals, birds, fishes, reptiles, etc., etc., etc. by Various
Oh, yes; along comes the ichneumon fly and by a skillful blow on the spine paralyzes him and then thrusts under his skin an egg to be warmed into life by its departing heat.
From Sons and Fathers by Harry Stillwell Edwards
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