ichneumon

noun

ich·​neu·​mon ik-ˈnü-mən How to pronounce ichneumon (audio)
-ˈnyü-
1
: a mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) of Africa, southern Europe, and southwestern Asia
2
: ichneumon wasp

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek ichneumōn, literally, tracker, from ichneuein to track, from ichnos footprint

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ichneumon was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing ichneumon

Dictionary Entries Near ichneumon

Ichneumia

ichneumon

Ichneumones

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Ichneumon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ichneumon. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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