hippopotamus

(hip′ə pätə məs)

noun pl. hippopotamuses, hippopotami , hippopotamus

any of a family (Hippopotamyidae) of large, plant-eating, artiodactylous mammals with a heavy, thick-skinned, almost hairless body and short legs: they live chiefly in or near rivers in Africa

Origin: L < Gr hippopotamos, lit., river horse < hippos (see hippo-) + potamos, river, orig., that which goes down < IE base *pet-, to fall, fly > feather, Gr pteryx, wing

See hippopotamus in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. hip·po·pot·a·mus·es or hip·po·pot·a·mi (-mīˌ)
  1. A large, chiefly aquatic African herbivorous mammal (Hippopotamus amphibius) having thick, dark, almost hairless skin, short legs with four toes, and a broad, wide-mouthed muzzle. Also called river horse.
  2. The pygmy hippopotamus.

Origin:

Origin: Latin

Origin: , from Greek hippopotamos

Origin: : hippos, horse; see ekwo- in Indo-European roots

Origin: + potamos, river; see pet- in Indo-European roots

.

Learn more about hippopotamus

hippopotamus

link/cite print suggestion box