Hyena
/haɪˈiːnə/
The meaning and definition of Hyena, with examples, synonyms, and a word game to make it stick.
Definition
noun
- Any of the medium-sized to large feliform carnivores of the subfamily Hyaeninae (genera Hyaena and Crocuta), native to Africa and Asia and noted for the sound similar to laughter which they can make if excited.
- (Sub-Saharan Africa) A man that performs ritualized sex acts with recently widowed women and menarchal girls.
Definitions from the Free Dictionary API
Origin
From Old French hiene, from Latin hyaena, from Ancient Greek ὕαινα.
25 Greek & Latin roots that unlock 1,000+ English words
Source: Etymological Wordnet (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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