chevrotain

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a very small, hornless, deerlike ruminant of the family Tragulidae, native to tropical Africa or Asia; a mouse deer

   The nocturnal chevrotain stepped quietly from the dense forest undergrowth.

Borrowed from French chevrotain or chevrotin, a diminutive based on Old French chevrot, 'young goat,' itself related to chevre, 'goat,' from Latin capra. The name refers to the animal's very small, delicate, deerlike form.

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