'hyaena' definitions:

Definition of 'hyaena'

noun

Doglike nocturnal mammal of Africa and southern Asia that feeds chiefly on carrion [syn: hyena, hyaena]

From: GCIDE

From: GCIDE

Hyena \Hy*e"na\, n.; pl. Hyenas. [L. hyaena, Gr. ?, orig., a sow, but usually, a Libyan wild beast, prob., the hyena, fr. ? hog: cf. F. hy[`e]ne. See Sow female hog.] (Zool.) Any carnivorous mammal of the family Hy[ae]nid[ae], 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 hy[ae]na.]
Syn: hyaena. [1913 Webster]
Note: The striped hyena (Hy[ae]na striata) inhabits Southern Asia and a large part of Africa. The brown hyena (Hy[ae]na brunnea), and the spotted hyena (Crocuta maculata), are found in Southern Africa. The extinct cave hyena (Hy[ae]na spel[ae]a) inhabited England and France. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE