spotted hyena
noun
an African hyena, Crocuta crocuta, having a yellowish-gray coat with brown or black spots, noted for its distinctive howl.
Origin of spotted hyena
1First recorded in 1775–85
- Also called laughing hyena.
Words Nearby spotted hyena
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use spotted hyena in a sentence
The tiger-wolf, as the spotted hyena is also called, is much more dangerous than the other hyenas.
The Animal World, A Book of Natural History | Theodore WoodWhen he came to the fire, a glance showed him that he had killed a full-grown spotted hyena.
Into the Primitive | Robert Ames BennetIn a short time we caught sight of a gigantic tiger-wolf, or spotted hyena, sitting under a bush, and growling fiercely at us.
In the Wilds of Africa | W.H.G. KingstonIt looks very much like a spotted hyena, and yet it is not really a hyena.
The Animal World, A Book of Natural History | Theodore WoodThe figure below represents the striped, and the other represents the spotted hyena.
An Alphabet of Quadrupeds | Anonymous
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