cavy

English

Etymology

From obsolete Portuguese çavia (“the spiny rat, Makalata armate, Echimys armata”) (modern saviá, sauiá), from Old Tupi saujá.

Pronunciation

• enPR: kāʹvē, IPA^(key): /ˈkeɪ.vi/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪvi
• Homophone: cave (interjection)

Noun

cavy (plural cavies)

1. Synonym of domestic guinea pig.

   Synonyms: domestic cavy, domestic guinea pig, guinea pig

2. Any rodent in the Caviidae.

Derived terms

• acrobatic cavy
• caviary
• mountain cavy
• musk cavy
• Patagonian cavy
• restless cavy
• rock cavy
• water cavy
• yellow-toothed cavy

Translations

guinea pig — see guinea pig

Anagrams

• VyAc