Main Entry: rhi·noc·er·os

Pronunciation: \rī-ˈnäs-rəs, rə-, -ˈnä-sə-\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural rhi·noc·er·os·es also rhi·noc·er·os or -noc·eri\-ˈnä-sə-ˌrī\

Etymology: Middle English rinoceros, from Anglo-French, from Latin rhinocerot-, rhinoceros, from Greek rhinokerōt-, rhinokerōs, from rhin- + keras horn — more at horn

Date: 14th century

: any of a family (Rhinocerotidae) of large heavyset herbivorous perissodactyl mammals of Africa and Asia that have one or two upright keratinous horns on the snout and thick gray to brown skin with little hair

[rhinoceros illustration]