civet cat
- noun
- /ˈsɪvɪt kæt/
- US
:
gato civeta
- Visitors were delighted to watch a civet cat with its distinctive black and white ringed tail at the nature reserve.
Examples
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The civet cat is often seen in the forests of Mexico.
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Children were excited to see the bushy tail of a civet cat in the zoo.
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Farmers sometimes spot a civet cat looking for food near their barns.
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The civet cat is often seen prowling around the forests at dusk.
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Have you ever spotted a civet cat in the wild?
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While hiking in the desert, I spotted a civet cat searching for food among the rocks and bushes.
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The civet cat is easily recognized by its bushy tail and playful nature, making it a favorite among wildlife enthusiasts.
Synonyms
A small North American mammal like a raccoon with a long bushy tail with black and white rings
A small mammal like a raccoon with a long bushy tail ringed black and white
An animal like a raccoon that has a long bushy tail with black and white rings
A small animal like a raccoon with a long tail with black and white rings
A small mammal like a raccoon with a long ringed tail that climbs trees and is active at night
A small animal like a raccoon that lives in trees and has a long ringed tail
A small wild fox from Mexico and the US with a long bushy tail with black and white rings
A small animal like a raccoon with a long bushy tail with black and white rings
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is a straightforward noun+noun composition: 'civet' (a catlike, musk-secreting mammal) modifies 'cat', so a learner who knows both words will infer it denotes a cat-like mammal. This compositional, descriptive naming pattern is cross-linguistically common, making the meaning readily derivable from the parts.
Etymology
Civet cat was a name given by early settlers to the ringtail because it looked like a small cat with a long, ringed tail and sometimes gave off a strong smell like 'civet'. So the name came to mean this raccoon-like animal in North America.
