rhinoceros

[ rahy-nos-er-uhs ]

noun

, plural rhi·noc·er·os·es, (especially collectively) rhi·noc·er·os.

1. any of several large, thick-skinned, perissodactyl mammals of the family Rhinocerotidae, of Africa and India, having one or two upright horns on the snout: all rhinoceroses are endangered.
2. Douay Bible. unicorn ( def 4 ).

rhinoceros

/ ˌraɪnəʊsɪˈrɒtɪk; raɪˈnɒsərəs; -ˈnɒsrəs /

noun

1. any of several perissodactyl mammals constituting the family Rhinocerotidae of SE Asia and Africa and having either one horn on the nose, like the Indian rhinoceros ( Rhinoceros unicornis ), or two horns, like the African white rhinoceros ( Diceros simus ) They have a very thick skin, massive body, and three digits on each foot

Derived Forms

• rhinocerotic, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhinoceros¹

1300–50; Middle English rinoceros < Late Latin rhīnoceros < Greek rhīnókerōs, equivalent to rhīno- rhino- + -kerōs -horned, adj. derivative of kéras horn (of an animal)

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhinoceros¹

C13: via Latin from Greek rhinokerōs , from rhis nose + keras horn

Example Sentences

There are "heavily armed gladiators riding a charging rhinoceros" and "wounded men tumbling from boats into the jaws of ravenous sharks" during the nautical battle staged in the flooded pit of the Colosseum.

From BBC

It was the ninth Banksy to appear in as many days in London and follows images of a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, a cat, piranhas and a rhinoceros.

From BBC

His latest work follows images that have popped up each morning since 5 August across London of a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, a cat, piranhas and a rhinoceros.

From BBC

An iconic species of megafauna, the woolly rhinoceros had thick skin and long fur, and it once roamed the mammoth step of northern and central Eurasia, before its extinction around 10,000 years ago.

From Science Daily

With coarse fur, a stocky body, and a pair of daggers sticking out of its face, the woolly rhinoceros proved a formidable beast for millions of years as it roamed northern Eurasia.

From Science Magazine

What Is The Plural Of Rhinoceros?

Plural word for rhinoceros

The plural form of rhinoceros is rhinoceroses. The plurals of several other singular words that end in -s are also formed in this way, such as pass/passes, lotus/lotuses, and dress/dresses. 

In some words derived from Latin that end in -us, the irregular plural ending -i is used, as in fungus/fungi and cactus/cacti. Sometimes, for humorous effect or as an overcorrection, people apply the same kind of ending to rhinoceros (because it sounds like it ends in -us), as in rhinoceri. However, this is not a valid plural form of rhinoceros.