spotted hyena

noun

1. an African hyena, Crocuta crocuta, having a yellowish-gray coat with brown or black spots, noted for its distinctive howl.

Word History and Origins

Origin of spotted hyena¹

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

The tiger-wolf, as the spotted hyena is also called, is much more dangerous than the other hyenas.

From Project Gutenberg

When he came to the fire, a glance showed him that he had killed a full-grown spotted hyena.

From Project Gutenberg

In a short time we caught sight of a gigantic tiger-wolf, or spotted hyena, sitting under a bush, and growling fiercely at us.

From Project Gutenberg

It looks very much like a spotted hyena, and yet it is not really a hyena.

From Project Gutenberg

The figure below represents the striped, and the other represents the spotted hyena.

From Project Gutenberg