WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Hy*e"na
Part of Speech : n.;
Etymology : [L. hyaena, Gr. hy?ne. See Sow female hog.] (Zo?l.)
Definition : Defn: Any carnivorous mammal of the family Hy?nid?, of which three living species are known. They are large and strong, but cowardly. They feed chiefly on carrion, and are nocturnal in their habits. [Written also hy?na.]

Note: The striped hyena (Hy?na striata) inhabits Southern Asia and a large part of Africa. The brown hyena (H. brunnea), and the spotted hyena (Crocuta maculata), are found in Southern Africa. The extinct cave hyena (H. spel?a) inhabited England and France. Cave hyena. See under Cave. -- Hyena dog (Zo?l.), a South African canine animal (Lycaon venaticus), which hunts in packs, chiefly at night. It is smaller than the common wolf, with very large, erect ears, and a bushy tail. Its color is reddish or yellowish brown, blotched with black and white. Called also hunting dog.

pl. Hyenas.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913