capybara
UK /kapɪˈbɑːɹə/ · US /ˌkæpiˈbɛɹə/ noun
Forms capybaras capibara
- noun A large semi-aquatic South American rodent of the genus Hydrochoerus.
- noun The greater capybara (true capybara).
Synonyms
water pig water hog carpinchoe cabiai capibara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Etymology
From Spanish capibara, from Portuguese capivara, from Old Tupi kapi'iûara (literally “grass eater”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A large South American rodent (Hydrochærus capybara) Living on the margins of lakes and rivers. It is the largest extant rodent, being about three feet long, and half that in height. It somewhat resembles the Guinea pig, to which it is related; --called also cabiai and water hog.
Etymology [Sp. capibara, fr. the native name.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “capybara”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details