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]