Trends ofchinchilla
View usage for:
chinchilla
(tʃɪntʃɪlə)
Word forms: chinchillas
countable noun
A chinchilla is a small furry animal that is bred for its valuable fur.
chinchilla in British English
(tʃɪnˈtʃɪlə)
noun
1.
a small gregarious hystricomorph rodent, Chinchilla laniger, inhabiting mountainous regions of South America: family Chinchillidae. It has a stocky body and is bred in captivity for its soft silvery grey fur
2.
the highly valued fur of this animal
3. mountain chinchilla
4.
a breed of rabbit with soft silver-grey fur
5.
a thick napped woollen cloth used for coats
Word origin
C17: from Spanish, perhaps from Aymarachinchilla in American English
(tʃɪnˈtʃɪlə)
noun
1.
a small rodent (Chinchilla laniger) found in the Andes, but bred extensively elsewhere for its fur
2.
the expensive, soft, pale-gray fur of this animal
3.
a variety of Persian cat, typically pure white
4.
a heavy cloth of wool, or wool and cotton, with a tufted, napped surface, used for making overcoats
Word origin
Sp, prob. dim. of chinche: see chinch; (sense 4) prob. after Chinchilla, Sp town where first madeImage ofchinchilla
© Viorel Sima, shutterstock