Main Entry:

chin·chil·la

Pronunciation:

\chin-ˈchi-lə\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Spanish

Date:

1604

1: either of two small South American rodents (Chinchilla laniger and C. brevicaudata of the family Chinchillidae) of the high Andes that are the size of large squirrels, have very soft pearly-gray fur, and are extensively bred in captivity ; also : the fur of a chinchilla2: a heavy twilled woolen coating

[chinchilla illustration]