Hy·e·na n.; pl. Hyenas Zool. Any carnivorous mammal of the family Hyænidæ, doglike nocturnal mammals of Africa and southern Asia, 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 hyæna.]
Syn: -- hyaena.
Note: ☞ The striped hyena (Hyæna striata) inhabits Southern Asia and a large part of Africa. The brown hyena (Hyæna brunnea), and the spotted hyena (Crocuta maculata), are found in Southern Africa. The extinct cave hyena (Hyæna spelæa) inhabited England and France.
Cave hyena. See under Cave.
Hyena dog Zool., 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.
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Hunt·ing n. The pursuit of game or of wild animals.
Happy hunting grounds, the region to which, according to the belief of American Indians, the souls of warriors and hunters pass after death, to be happy in hunting and feasting. --Tylor.
Hunting box. Same As Hunting lodge (below).
Hunting cat Zool., the cheetah.
Hunting cog Mach., a tooth in the larger of two geared wheels which makes its number of teeth prime to the number in the smaller wheel, thus preventing the frequent meeting of the same pairs of teeth.
Hunting dog Zool., the hyena dog.
Hunting ground, a region or district abounding in game; esp. (pl.), the regions roamed over by the North American Indians in search of game.
Hunting horn, a bulge; a horn used in the chase. See Horn, and Bulge.
Hunting leopard Zool., the cheetah.
Hunting lodge, a temporary residence for the purpose of hunting.
Hunting seat, a hunting lodge. --Gray.
Hunting shirt, a coarse shirt for hunting, often of leather.
Hunting spider Zool., a spider which hunts its prey, instead of catching it in a web; a wolf spider.
Hunting watch. See Hunter, 6.
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hunting dog
n : a dog used in hunting game