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chaus

noun
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\ ˈkau̇s, ˈch- \
plural chaus

Definition of chaus

: an Old World wildcat, possibly the African wildcat or jungle cat

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History and Etymology for chaus

borrowed from New Latin, going back to Latin, assumed nominative of an accusative form chaum, medieval and early modern reading of a word in manuscripts of Pliny’s Historia naturalis (now usually read as chama, nominative, denoting a lynx-like animal, of unknown origin)

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Cite this Entry

“Chaus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaus. Accessed 20 Oct. 2021.

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