Herpestes

noun

Her·​pes·​tes

ˌhərˈpe(ˌ)stēz

: a genus of Old World carnivorous mammals (family Herpestidae) comprising typical mongooses

herpestine

-stə̇n

ˈhərpəˌstīn

adjective or noun

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek herpēstēs animal that walks on all four feet, from herpēstēs, adjective, creeping, from herpein to creep

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