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Definition of dingo
dingoes
: a wild dog (Canis dingo) of Australia having a tan or reddish coat that is often considered a subspecies (C. familiaris dingo) of the domestic dog
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Recent Examples of dingo from the Web
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For something entirely different, stop into the Healesville Sanctuary, which provides refuge for local wildlife – like kangaroos, dingos, wombats and the like.
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Not since the notorious case of Lindy Chamberlain — whose baby daughter was killed by a dingo during an Outback camping trip — has a legal saga so mesmerized the country.
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But on the opposite side, there was just one dingo with some 3,200 kangaroos happily hopping about, unchecked by pesky predators.
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Now, one of the central figures in the case — in which a dingo, a type of wild dog found in Australia, was found to have killed the couple’s nine-week-old baby girl — has died.
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Koalas, in their native habitat of Australia, often fall prey to dingoes and other wild animals, but never a cougar.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dingo'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
An Australian wild dog, the dingo was apparently introduced from Asia 5,000–8,000 years ago. It has short, soft fur, a bushy tail, and erect, pointed ears. It is about 4 ft (1.2 m) long, including the 12-in (30-cm) tail, and stands about 24 in (60 cm) high. Its color varies between yellowish and reddish brown, often with white underparts, feet, and tail tip. Dingoes hunt alone or in small groups. They formerly preyed on kangaroos, but now feed mainly on rabbits and sometimes on livestock. Through competition for resources, they contributed to the extermination of the Tasmanian wolf and Tasmanian devil on the Australian mainland.
Illustration of dingo
Origin and Etymology of dingo
Dharuk (Australian aboriginal language of the Port Jackson area) diŋgu
DINGO Defined for English Language Learners
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See words that rhyme with dingo Britannica English: Translation of dingo for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dingo
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