guinea-pig

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guinea-pig

In naval mine warfare, a ship used to determine whether an area can be considered safe from influence mines under certain conditions or, specifically, to detonate pressure mines.

Translations

guinea-pig

(ˈginipig) noun

1. a small animal, like a rabbit, with short ears and often kept as a pet.

2. a person used as the subject of an experiment. He was used as a guinea-pig for the new drug.

References in classic literature ?

He tells me his favorite fairy-tales, he can do up to six times, and he has a guinea-pig, and pa says fairy-tales ain't true; and isn't it a pity?

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The poor little Lizard, Bill, was in the middle, being held up by two guinea-pigs, who were giving it something out of a bottle.

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He then took the cabbage to the room where he had rabbits -- for the Abbe Adelmonte had a collection of rabbits, cats, and guinea-pigs, fully as fine as his collection of vegetables, flowers, and fruit.