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)

ichneumon Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • wasp: This is similar to the repulsive reproductive cycle of the ichneumon wasp.
  • fly: And then comes some secondary parasite, some ichneumon fly, and lays an egg within this grub, and behold!

Browse dictionary entries near ichneumon

  1. ‹ Ichinomiya
  2. ‹ Ichikawa
  3. ‹ Ichabod
  4. ‹ ICFTU
  5. ‹ Iceni
  6. ‹ iceman
  7. ‹ Icelandic
  8. ‹ Iceland spar
  9. ‹ Iceland poppy
  10. ‹ Iceland moss
  1. ichneumon fly ›
  2. ichnite ›
  3. ichno- ›
  4. ichnography ›
  5. ichnology ›
  6. ichor ›
  7. ichthyic ›
  8. ichthyo- ›
  9. ichthyoid ›
  10. ichthyolite ›