Main Entry:

mon·goose

Pronunciation:

\ˈmän-ˌgüs, ˈmäŋ-\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural mon·goos·es also mon·geese \-ˌgēs\

Etymology:

Hindi & Marathi mãgūs, from Prakrit maṁgūsa

Date:

1698

: any of numerous carnivorous mammals (family Herpestidae) that are agile usually ferret-sized mammals sometimes with bands or stripes, feed chiefly on small animals and fruits, and are sometimes grouped with the viverrids in two subfamilies (Herpestinae and Galidiinae)

[mongoose illustration]