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Webster 1913 Edition

Hyena

Hy-e′na

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Hyenas
(#)
.
[L.
hyaena
, Gr. [GREEK], orig., a sow, but usually, a Libyan wild beast, prob., the hyena, fr. [GREEK] hog: cf. F.
hyène
. See
Sow
female hog.]
(Zool.)
Any carnivorous mammal of the family
Hyænidæ
, doglike nocturnal mammals of Africa and southern Asia, of which three living species are known. They are large and strong, but cowardly. They feed chiefly on carrion, and are nocturnal in their habits.
[Written also
hyæna
.]

Syn. – hyaena.
☞ The striped hyena (
Hyæna striata
) inhabits Southern Asia and a large part of Africa. The brown hyena (
Hyæna brunnea
), and the spotted hyena (
Crocuta maculata
), are found in Southern Africa. The extinct cave hyena (
Hyæna spelæa
) inhabited England and France.
Cave hyena
.
See under
Cave
.
–
Hyena dog
(Zool.)
,
a South African canine animal (
Lycaon venaticus
), which hunts in packs, chiefly at night. It is smaller than the common wolf, with very large, erect ears, and a bushy tail. Its color is reddish or yellowish brown, blotched with black and white. Called also
hunting dog
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Hyena

HYE'NA

,
Noun.
[L. hyaena.] A quadruped of the genus Canis,having small naked ears, four toes on each foot, a straight jointed tail, and erect hair on the neck; an inhabitant of Asiatic Turkey, Syria,Persia and Barbary. It is a solitary animal,and feeds on flesh; it preys on flocks and herds, and will open graves to obtain food. It is a fierce, cruel and untamable animal, and is sometimes called the tiger-wolf.

Definition 2024

hýena

hýena

See also: hyena

Icelandic

Noun

hýena f ‎(genitive singular hýenu, nominative plural hýenur)

  1. hyena

Declension

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