ichneumon Hear it!

ichneumon definition

ich·neu·mon (ik no̵̅o̅′mən, -nyo̵̅o̅′-)

noun

  1. the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon)
  2. ichneumon fly

Etymology: L < Gr ichneumōn, ichneumon, lit., tracker < ichneuein, to track out, hunt after < ichnos, a track, footprint (from its supposed practice of locating and destroying crocodile eggs)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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