coyote

[ kahy-oh-tee, kahy-oht ]

noun

, plural coy·o·tes, (especially collectively) coy·o·te.

1. Also called prairie wolf. a buffy-gray, wolflike canid, Canis latrans, of North America, distinguished from the wolf by its relatively small size and its slender build, large ears, and narrow muzzle.
2. Slang. a contemptible person, especially an avaricious or dishonest one.
3. American Indian Legend. the coyote regarded as a culture hero and trickster by American Indian tribes of the West.
4. Slang. a person who smuggles immigrants, especially Latin Americans, into the U.S. for a fee.

coyote

/ kɔɪˈəʊt; ˈkɔɪəʊt; kɔɪˈəʊtɪ /

noun

1. Also calledprairie wolf a predatory canine mammal, Canis latrans, related to but smaller than the wolf, roaming the deserts and prairies of North America
2. (in Native American legends of the West) a trickster and culture hero represented as a man or as an animal

Word History and Origins

Origin of coyote¹

1825–35; earlier cuiota, cayota < Mexican Spanish coyote < Nahuatl coyōtl

Word History and Origins

Origin of coyote¹

C19: from Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl coyotl

Example Sentences

With a skeleton crew and Aitken as camera operator, he filmed improvised moments with non-actors, located strange and beautiful pockets of his home state to shoot, and arranged for a coyote, a horse and that mountain lion to take part.

From Los Angeles Times

The L.A.-based musician behind the viral hit ‘Million Dollar Baby’ on TikTok, new stardom and his debut album, ‘Coyote.’

From Los Angeles Times

Most of the events center around weekly or monthly urban walks in Griffith Park and Pasadena, but there are other activities, such as walks that include picking up trash in Fullerton’s Coyote Hills, kayaking trips, museum visits and dinner or lunch after certain walks.

From Los Angeles Times

As an added bonus, the company’s coyote logo is reflective, adding just a hint of extra protection while exercising at night.

From Los Angeles Times

Along the highway east of town, you will probably encounter Coyote, a 67-year-old junkyard proprietor with a booming baritone voice and a truck that says “UFO retrieval and repairs.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• mutt
• pooch
• pup