Definition:
an imaginary large four-legged beast with legs on one side longer than on the other for walking on hillsides
About the Word:
Described as a "near relative of the Whang–Doodle and a distant cousin of the Snipe," the gyascutus made its first appearance in American newspapers in the 1840s, and has played a minor role in American folklore since then. In one tale, a pair of the critters clung to each other for support as they wended their way to western territories; in other stories, the lopsided gyascutus would topple off hillsides and be unable to stand up again.
The gyascutus (that name – the origin of which is unknown – gives a nod to Latin taxonomy) goes by many other names. One modern incarnation, the Sidehill Gouger, appears in a video game of that name.
