cavy
English Edit
Etymology Edit
From obsolete Portuguese çavia (“the spiny rat, Makalata armate, Echimys armata”) (modern saviá, sauiá), from Old Tupi saujá.
Pronunciation Edit
- enPR: kāʹvē, IPA(key): /ˈkeɪ.vi/
Audio (Southern England) (file) - Rhymes: -eɪvi
- Homophone: cave (interjection)
Noun Edit
cavy (plural cavies)
- Synonym of guinea pig (“rodent”)
- Any rodent in the Caviidae.
Derived terms Edit
Translations Edit
guinea pig — see guinea pig