ichneumon

American  

[ik-noo-muhn, -nyoo-] / ɪkˈnu mən, -ˈnyu- /

noun

1. Also called African mongoose.  Also called Egyptian mongoose.  a slender, long-tailed mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon, inhabiting Africa and southern Europe, and believed by the ancient Egyptians to devour crocodile eggs.

2. ichneumon fly.

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ichneumon British  

/ ɪkˈnjuːmən /

noun

1. a mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon, of Africa and S Europe, having greyish-brown speckled fur

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Etymology

Origin of ichneumon

1565–75; < Latin < Greek ichneúmōn tracker, equivalent to ichneú ( ein ) to track ( see ichno-) + -mōn agent suffix

Example Sentences

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

Essay on the Nature of Various Animals", "I had an ichneumon very young, which I brought up.

From Natural History in Anecdote Illustrating the nature, habits, manners and customs of animals, birds, fishes, reptiles, etc., etc., etc. by Various

In 1832 a living ichneumon was brought to Haverhill, and was on exhibition at Frinksborough, a section of Haverhill now known as "the borough," on the bank of the river above the railroad bridge.

From Whittier-land A Handbook of North Essex, Containing Many Anecdotes of and Poems by John Greenleaf Whittier Never Before Collected. by Pickard, Samuel T. (Samuel Thomas)