cavy

[ key-vee ]

noun

, plural ca·vies.

1. any of several short-tailed or tailless South American rodents of the family Caviidae, as the guinea pig, capybara, or agouti.

cavy

/ ˈkeɪvɪ /

noun

1. any small South American hystricomorph rodent of the family Caviidae, esp any of the genus Cavia, having a thickset body and very small tail See also guinea pig

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavy¹

1790–1800; < New Latin Cavia name of the genus < Carib ( Galibi ) cabiai

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavy¹

C18: from New Latin Cavia, from Galibi cabiai

Example Sentences

The Patagonian cavies look like jackrabbits and are native to Argentina.

From Washington Times

Duke recalled a case of escaped Patagonian cavies in McCormick County, where The Greenwood Index-Journal reported a kangaroo was spotted last year.

From Seattle Times

But he said it’s been six or seven years since the last cavy was reported to Natural Resources.

From Washington Times

Guests who come to visit Dave and Dawn Hoekstra’s collection of exotic animals can come face-to-face with lemurs, watch Patagonian cavies munch their carrot lunches or enter an enclosure filled with colorful parakeets.

From Washington Times

Since taking over as zoo curator two years ago, Dr. Valitutto has brought in such animals as Patagonian cavies, a cassowary and a capybara, more than doubling the collection of animals, to 1,500.

From New York Times

Related Words

• Cavia porcellus
• rodent