mongoose

Meaning

Noun

• 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.
• Any species of Malagasy mongoose; 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.

Origin

• 1690s. Borrowed from Portuguese mangusto, from Marathi मुंगूस, from Old Marathi 𑘦𑘳𑘽𑘐𑘳𑘭, from Telugu ముంగిస. Spelling altered by folk-etymological association with goose. Displaced native .