ichneumon

(ik no̵̅o̅mən, -nyo̵̅o̅-)

noun

  1. the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon)
  2. 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
  1. A large mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) of Africa and southern Europe, having a gray coat and black tail tufts. Also called Egyptian mongoose.
  2. 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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