hyena

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a strong-jawed carnivorous mammal of Africa and Asia, known for scavenging and for calls that can resemble laughter

   A spotted hyena carried the bone away from the edge of the herd.

From Middle English hiena, through Old French and Latin from Greek hyaina. The Greek name is related to hys ("pig"), probably referring to the animal's bristly mane or piglike appearance.

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