caracal

[ kar-uh-kal ]

noun

1. a slender, catlike mammal, Lynx caracal, with a reddish-brown coat and long tufted ears, inhabiting northern Africa and India.
2. the fur of this animal.

caracal

/ ˈkærəˌkæl /

noun

1. Also calleddesert lynx a lynxlike feline mammal, Lynx caracal, inhabiting deserts of N Africa and S Asia, having long legs, a smooth coat of reddish fur, and black-tufted ears
2. the fur of this animal

Word History and Origins

Origin of caracal¹

1750–60; < French, apparently Buffon's adaption of Turkish karakulak lynx ( kara black + kulak ear)

Word History and Origins

Origin of caracal¹

C18: from French, from Turkish kara kūlāk, literally: black ear

Example Sentences

This area – spanning parts of modern-day Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Iran and more – is home to numerous small cats, including the caracal, serval, jungle cat and sand cat.

From Salon

One of the infected animals wasn't a house cat, but rather a caracal, which is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa.

From Salon

She knew, therefore, that the only animals who could have made the prints were the serval or the caracal.

From Literature

A striking image of a caracal hunting flamingo in Tanzania has won first prize in the 2022 Nature TTL Photographer of the Year competition.

From BBC

In a related thread, a user commented, “Feds are not looking post floppa,” accompanied by a picture of a popular Russian caracal who has gained an internet following under the name “Big Floppa.”

From The Verge

Related Words

• bobcat
• wildcat