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Glite Dictionary
Abyssinian cat

Abyssinian cat

1 3.0
A slender short-haired cat with brown fur and a reddish undercoat
  • noun
  • /ˌæbɪˈsɪniən kæt/
translation icon : gato abisinio
  • I saw an Abyssinian cat at the animal shelter yesterday.

Examples

  • Many breeders consider the Abyssinian cat one of the oldest existing feline breeds.

  • Her family adopted an Abyssinian cat with strikingly beautiful fur.

  • The Abyssinian cat is admired for its playful and affectionate nature.

  • The Abyssinian cat is known for its playful nature.

  • The Abyssinian cat is known for its sleek body and striking reddish-tinted fur.

  • She adopted an Abyssinian cat from the animal shelter, captivated by its playful nature.

  • The veterinarian commented on how healthy the Abyssinian cat looked after its recent check-up.

Synonyms

cat
vsAbyssinian cat
∞ 1.0

A small, furry pet or a large wild animal like a lion

is a single specific slender domestic breed from Africa rather than the general animal
Abyssinian
vsAbyssinian cat
1 7.7

A domestic cat from Africa with a slim body and short brown fur

is the longer two-word name that specifies the animal more explicitly

Surface Forms

Abyssinian cat singular
Abyssinian cats plural

Morphology

Abyssinian + cat

The phrase names a cat of a specific breed formed compositionally from the breed adjective 'Abyssinian' + the noun 'cat', so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to that type of cat. This breed-name + animal pattern is literal and cross-linguistically common, not idiomatic.

Etymology

Abyssinian cat may come from the old country name Abyssinia, the old name for 'Ethiopia'. People long ago thought these sleek, brownish animals came from there, so the name stuck and now refers to a slender domestic cat with reddish-brown fur.