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ichneumon

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.02 sec.
ich·neu·mon  (k-nmn, -ny-)
n.
1. A large mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) of Africa and southern Europe, having a gray coat and black tail tufts. Also called Egyptian mongoose.
2. The ichneumon fly.

[Latin ichneumn, weasel, ichneumon fly, from Greek ikhneumn, from ikhneuein, to track, from ikhnos, track.]

ichneumon [ɪkˈnjuːmən]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) a mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon, of Africa and S Europe, having greyish-brown speckled fur
[via Latin from Greek, literally: tracker, hunter, from ikhneuein to track, from ikhnos a footprint; so named from the animal's alleged ability to locate the eggs of crocodiles]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.ichneumonichneumon - northern African mongoose; in ancient times thought to devour crocodile eggs
mongoose - agile grizzled Old World viverrine; preys on snakes and rodents


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
But natural selection can and does often produce structures for the direct injury of other species, as we see in the fang of the adder, and in the ovipositor of the ichneumon, by which its eggs are deposited in the living bodies of other insects.
"Well, some call them that, and some call them ichneumon," said the man.
 
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