Dictionary

cavy en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• kāʹvē
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈkeɪ.vi/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Tupi-Guarani *aŋuja? Old Tupi saûîáder. taxonomic name Cavia Proto-Germanic *-j-, *-ij- Proto-West Germanic *-i, *-ī Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English cavy From taxonomic name Cavia + English -y.

Meanings

1. Synonym of domestic guinea pig.
2. Any rodent in the Caviidae.

Forms

Deriveds

restless cavy · water cavy · caviary · musk cavy · rock cavy · yellow-toothed cavy · acrobatic cavy · mountain cavy · Patagonian cavy

Synonyms

domestic cavy · domestic guinea pig · domestic guinea pig · guinea pig

cavy en · ADJ · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• kāʹvē
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈkeɪ.vi/

Etymology

Etymology tree Middle English cave English cave Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y blend English cavy Blend of cave + -y.

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of cavey (“cave-like”).
   alt of cavey
   • Asser stated that the British name was Tiuogsbane, which means "the cavy place," and is taken to refer to homes hollowed out of the soft sandstone. 1914, Nottingham (England). Chamber of Commerce, Commercial Year Book (page 46)

Forms