viverrine

or vi·ver·rid

[ vahy-ver-ahyn, -in, vi- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the Viverridae, a family of small carnivorous mammals including the civets, genets, palm cats, etc.

noun

1. a viverrine animal.

viverrine

/ vaɪˈvɛraɪn /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Viverridae, a family of small to medium-sized predatory mammals of Eurasia and Africa, including genets, civets and mongooses: order Carnivora (carnivores)

noun

1. any animal belonging to the family Viverridae

viverrine

/ vī-vĕr′ĭn,-īn′ /

1. Characteristic of or resembling civets or their kin.

Word History and Origins

Origin of viverrine¹

1790–1800; < New Latin viverrīnus, equivalent to Viverr ( a ) a genus name ( Latin vīverra the ferret or a similar animal; akin to Lithuanian voverė̃, Old Russian věveritsa, Old English ācwern, Old High German eihhurno squirrel) + -īnus -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of viverrine¹

C19: from New Latin viverrīnus, from Latin viverra a ferret

Example Sentences

According to Jerdon it is nocturnal, arboreal, and omnivorous, eating small animals, birds, insects, fruit and plants; more wild than viverrine animals in general, but easily tamed.

From Project Gutenberg

He knew as a fact that the feline teeth had a certain structure, and that the dental formula of the viverrine animals is different.

From Project Gutenberg

They are plantigrade, and are without a cæcum or blind gut; the skull, however it may approach to a viverrine or feline shape, has still marked arctoid characteristics.

From Project Gutenberg