hippo

¹

[ hip-oh ]

noun

, Informal.

, plural hip·pos.

1. hippopotamus.

Hippo

²

[ hip-oh ]

noun

1. Hippo Regius.

hippo-

³

1. a combining form appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “horse” ( hippodrome ); on this model, used in the formation of compound words ( hippology ).

hippo

/ ˈhɪpəʊ /

noun

1. short for hippopotamus
2. an armoured police car

Word History and Origins

Origin of hippo¹

By shortening

Origin of hippo²

< Greek: combining form of híppos; cognate with Latin equus, Old Irish ech, Old English eoh, Sanskrit aśvas, Lithuanian ašvà

Example Sentences

A baby pygmy hippo named Moo Deng has become a huge internet star.

From NewsForKids.net

He added that the zoo's pygmy hippo house would now be closed for a month due to the first 30 days after birth being "critical" for Haggis' development.

From BBC

The tiny endangered pygmy hippo calf, named Haggis, arrived on 30 October and zookeepers said her personality was "beginning to shine" already.

From BBC

In September, a pygmy hippo in Thailand called Moo Deng went viral and was featured in a series of memes due to her frame and podgy proportions.

From BBC

Last month, Khao Kheow Open Zoo had to warn visitors not to try to wake up Moo Deng, after the hippo soared in popularity and sparked a surge in visitors to the zoo.

From BBC