nounWord forms: pluralhyraxes or hyraces (ˈhaɪrəˌsiːz)
any agile herbivorous mammal of the family Procaviidae and order Hyracoidea, of Africa and SW Asia, such as Procavia capensis (rock hyrax). They resemble rodents but have feet with hooflike toes
Also called: dassie or (South African) rock rabbit
Word origin
C19: from New Latin, from Greek hurax shrewmouse; probably related to Latin sōrex
hyrax in American English
(ˈhaɪˌræks)
nounWord forms: pluralˈhyˌraxes or ˈhyraˌces (haɪrəˌsiz)
any of an order (Hyracoidea) of small, rodentlike mammals of Africa and SW Asia thatfeed on plants and live in rocky areas (genus Procavia) or in trees (genera Dendrohyrax and Heterohyrax)
Word origin
ModL < Gr, shrew mouse < IE base *swer-, to hum, buzz > swarm1