'Cavia cobaya' definitions:
Definition of 'Cavia cobaya'
From: WordNet
noun
Stout-bodied nearly tailless domesticated cavy; often kept as a pet and widely used in research [syn: guinea pig, Cavia cobaya]
Definition of 'Cavia cobaya'
From: GCIDE
- Cavy \Ca"vy\, n.; pl. Cavies. [NL. cavia, fr. Brazilian cabiai: cf. F. cabiai.] (Zool.) A rodent of the genera Cavia and Dolichotis, as the guinea pig (Cavia cobaya). Cavies are natives of South America. [1913 Webster]
- Water cavy (Zool.), The capybara. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Cavia cobaya'
From: GCIDE
- Guinea pig \Guin"ea pig`\ [Prob. a mistake for Guiana pig.]
- 1. (Zool.) A small Brazilian rodent (Cavia porcellus or Cavia cobaya), about seven inches in length and usually of a white color, with spots of orange and black. Called also cavy. It is the domesticated form of the wild cavy, often kept as a pet and used commonly as an experimental animal in laboratory research. [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]
- 2. Hence, [figuratively]: Any animal or person used in an experiment; -- also applied to people who are unwillingly or unknowingly subjected by authorities to policies or procedures which might cause bodily or mental harm. [PJC]
- 3. A contemptuous sobriquet. [Obs.] --Smollett [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]