First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
hyena
noun hy·e·na \hī-ˈē-nə\
: a large animal of Asia and Africa that eats the flesh of dead animals
plural hyenas also hyena
Full Definition of HYENA
: any of several large strong nocturnal carnivorous Old World mammals (family Hyaenidae) that usually feed as scavengers
— hy·e·nic \-ˈē-nik, -ˈe-nik\ adjective
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Origin of HYENA
Middle English hyene, from Latin hyaena, from Greek hyaina, from hys hog — more at sow
HYENIC Defined for Kids
hyena
noun hy·e·na \hī-ˈē-nə\
Definition of HYENA for Kids
: a large doglike mammal of Asia and Africa that lives on flesh
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