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ichneumon
(ik no̵̅o̅′mən, -nyo̵̅o̅′-)
noun
- the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon)
- ichneumon fly
Origin: 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)
See ichneumon in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- A large mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) of Africa and southern Europe, having a gray coat and black tail tufts. Also called Egyptian mongoose.
- The ichneumon fly.
Origin:
Origin: Latin ichneumōn, weasel, ichneumon fly
Origin: , from Greek ikhneumōn
Origin: , from ikhneuein, to track
Origin: , from ikhnos, track
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