eohippus

[ ee-oh-hip-uhs ]

noun

1. the earliest known horse, a member of the extinct genus Hyracotherium ( Eohippus ), from the early Eocene Epoch of the Northern Hemisphere; a terrier-sized herbivore having four hoofed toes on each forefoot and three on each hind foot, and low-crowned teeth.

eohippus

/ ˌiːəʊˈhɪpəs /

noun

1. the earliest horse: an extinct Eocene dog-sized animal of the genus with four-toed forelegs, three-toed hindlegs, and teeth specialized for browsing

eohippus

/ ē′ō-hĭp′əs /

1. See hyracotherium

Word History and Origins

Origin of eohippus¹

1875–80; < New Latin, equivalent to eo- eo- + Greek híppos horse

Word History and Origins

Origin of eohippus¹

C19: New Latin, from eo- + Greek hippos horse

Example Sentences

He opened his lips twice or thrice, and spoke, after several futile attempts, in a voice mild, but clearly earnest: “Oh, you little eohippus!”

From Project Gutenberg

Her lips just brushed him—the lucky little eohippus.

From Project Gutenberg

His slow drawl was getting slower; his cowboyese broader—a mode of speech quite inconsistent with that first sprightly remark about the little eohippus.

From Project Gutenberg

“And how about the little eohippus?” she demanded.

From Project Gutenberg

I had a jeweler-man put five toes on his feet once to make him be a little eohippus.

From Project Gutenberg