noun
meerkat
MEER-kat/ˈmɪrkæt/
A small social mongoose of southern Africa.
A meerkat stands upright while the rest of its group forages.
Etymology
Dutch meerkat meant “monkey”; the name was later applied to the southern African mammal. Dutch settlers probably helped this transfer, apparently using the word for several kinds of burrowing animals.
In context
today's animal of the day is the meerkat
More examples
- Meerkats live in groups and shelter in underground burrows.
- The meerkat digs in the sand for insects.
- Young meerkats learn to find food by following adults.
Forms
meerkat · meerkats
Similar words
- mongoose
- Names the broader animal group, not specifically the meerkat.