mongoose
English
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Egyptian_mongoose_eating_catfish.jpg/220px-Egyptian_mongoose_eating_catfish.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Indian_grey_mongoose.jpg/220px-Indian_grey_mongoose.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Northern_Ring-tailed_Mongoose_%28Galidia_elegans_dambrensis%29_%2844337443224%29.jpg/220px-Northern_Ring-tailed_Mongoose_%28Galidia_elegans_dambrensis%29_%2844337443224%29.jpg)
Malagasy Mongoose
Alternative forms
Etymology
1690s. Borrowed from Portuguese mangusto, from Marathi मुंगूस (muṅgūs), from Old Marathi 𑘦𑘳𑘽𑘐𑘳𑘭 (muṃgusa), from Telugu ముంగిస (muṅgisa). Spelling altered by folk-etymological association with goose.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 331: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈmɒŋ.ɡuːs/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 331: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈmɑŋ.ɡus/, /ˈmʌŋ.ɡus/
Noun
mongoose (plural mongooses or (nonstandard) mongeese)
- Any of several species of generalist predatory Carnivores in the family Herpestidae; the various species range in size from rats to large cats. The Indian mongoose is noted as a predator of venomous snakes, though other mongoose species have similar habits.
- 1864, John Holmes Agnew et al., The Eclectic Magazine: Foreign Literature[1]:
- After the mongoose had satisfied its appetite, we proceeded to examine with a pocket lens the wounds he had received from the cobra; and on cleansing one of these places, the lens disclosed the broken fang of the cobra deeply imbedded in the head of the mongoose... We have had the mongoose confined ever since (now four days' time), and it is as healthy and lively as ever.
- 1924, Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book:Rikki-Tikki-Tavi:
- He was a mongoose, rather like a little cat in his fur and his tail, but quite like a weasel in his head and his habits.
- Any species of Malagasy mongooses; only distantly related to the Herpestidae, these are members of the family Eupleridae; they resemble mongooses in appearance and habits, but have larger ears and ringed tails.
Derived terms
- African mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon)
- Angolan slender mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- banded mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- Bengal mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- black-footed mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- black-legged mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- black mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- brown-tailed mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- bushy-tailed mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- Cape gray mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- collared mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- common dwarf mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- common mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- crab-eating mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- dwarf mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon)
- Gambian mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- Grandidier's mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- Indian brown mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- Indian gray mongoose/Indian mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- Liberian mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- long-nosed mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- Jackson's mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- Javan mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- large gray mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon)
- marsh mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- Meller's mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- mongoose bat
- mongoose lemur (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- narrow-striped mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- Pousargues's mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- ring-tailed mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- ruddy mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- Selous's mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- short-tailed mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- slender mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- stripe-necked mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- Somalian slender mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- white-tailed mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
- yellow mongoose(Please check if this is already defined at target. Replace
{{vern}}
with a regular link if already defined. Add novern=1 if not defined.) (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.) - zebra mongoose (Lua error in Module:parameters at line 797: Parameter "ver" is not used by this template.)
Translations
a small carnivore of the family Herpestidae
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Anagrams
Categories:
- English terms borrowed from Portuguese
- English terms derived from Portuguese
- English terms derived from Marathi
- English terms derived from Old Marathi
- English terms derived from Telugu
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English nouns with irregular plurals
- English terms with quotations
- en:Herpestids