cavy

noun

ca·​vy ˈkā-vē How to pronounce cavy (audio)
plural cavies
: any of several short-tailed rough-haired South American rodents (family Caviidae)
especially : guinea pig

Examples of cavy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Pigeons shows are June 8-11; rabbits, June 14-18; cavies (guinea pigs), June 21-23; and poultry, July 1-3. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2023 Like most guinea pigs, also known as a cavy, Peanut is extremely social and tolerates handling well. The Republic, The Arizona Republic, 28 Jan. 2023 The domestic guinea pig, also known as the cavy, originated in South America but has been a popular house pet in the United States for a few hundred years. James Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Sep. 2022 Summer may just be starting to simmer down, but PetSmart is already prepping cavy owners for All Hallows Eve with nine guinea pig costumes fitting for different personalities. Selena Barrientos, House Beautiful, 23 Aug. 2019 This festival features everything great about animal fiber and will feature goats, sheep, rabbits and vendors, as well as a cavy show, or a presentation of small rodents. Anchorage Daily News, 17 July 2019 For now, the zoo's all-male group will remain the only cavies onsite. Jennifer Larino, NOLA.com, 22 May 2018 By comparison, the cavy is the world's fourth largest rodent and can weigh up to 20 pounds. Jennifer Larino, NOLA.com, 22 May 2018 Temperate Forest: To the east is the 25-foot-high treehouse that will be accessible to the handicapped and an exhibit on coatis (a member of the raccoon family) and Patagonian cavies (a rodent that resembles a cross between a rabbit and a deer). Roger Showley, sandiegouniontribune.com, 12 Jan. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cavy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Cavia, genus name, from obsolete Portuguese çavia (now sauiá) the spiny rat Makalata (Echimys) armata, from Tupi saujá

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cavy was in 1796

Dictionary Entries Near cavy

Cite this Entry

“Cavy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cavy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

cavy

noun
ca·​vy ˈkā-vē How to pronounce cavy (audio)
plural cavies
: any of several short-tailed South American rodents (family Caviidae)
especially : guinea pig

More from Merriam-Webster on cavy

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