'Cavia porcellus' definitions:
Definition of 'Cavia porcellus'
(from WordNet)
Definition of 'Cavia porcellus'
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]