{Water cavy} (Zo["o]l.), The capybara. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
cavy — ► NOUN (pl. cavies) ▪ a guinea pig or related South American rodent. ORIGIN Latin cavia, from Carib … English terms dictionary
cavy — [kā′vē] n. pl. cavies [< ModL Cavia < Galibi cabiai] any of a family (Caviidae) of short tailed South American rodents, as the guinea pig … English World dictionary
cavy — /kay vee/, n., pl. cavies. any of several short tailed or tailless South American rodents of the family Caviidae, as the guinea pig, capybara, or agouti. [1790 1800; < NL Cavia name of the genus < Carib (Galibi) cabiai] * * * Any of several… … Universalium
cavy — Guinea pig Guin ea pig [Prob. a mistake for Guiana pig.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A small Brazilian rodent ({Cavia porcellus} or {Cavia cobaya}), about seven inches in length and usually of a white color, with spots of orange and black. Called also {cavy}.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Cavy — This most interesting surname is probably of Old French origin, and is a diminutive form of Cave, which has two separate interpretations. Firstly, it is likely to be a metonymic occupational name for someone employed in or in charge of the wine… … Surnames reference
cavy — noun (plural cavies) Etymology: New Latin Cavia, genus name, from obsolete Portuguese çavia (now sauiá) the spiny rat Makalata (Echimys) armata, from Tupi saujá Date: 1796 any of several short tailed rough haired South American rodents (family… … New Collegiate Dictionary
cavy — noun A guinea pig … Wiktionary
cavy — ca·vy kā vē n, pl ca·vies any of several short tailed So. American rodents (family Caviidae) esp GUINEA PIG * * * ca·vy (kaґve) guinea pig … Medical dictionary
cavy — ca·vy || keɪvɪ n. any of a number of South American rodents (i.e. guinea pig, capybara, etc.) … English contemporary dictionary
cavy — [ keɪvi] noun (plural cavies) a guinea pig or related South American rodent. [Family Caviidae: numerous species.] Origin C18: from mod. L. cavia, from Galibi cabiai … English new terms dictionary
