Lexic.us

Definition of Hippopotamus

1. Noun. Massive thick-skinned herbivorous animal living in or around rivers of tropical Africa.

Definition of Hippopotamus

1. n. A large, amphibious, herbivorous mammal (Hippopotamus amphibius), common in the rivers of Africa. It is allied to the hogs, and has a very thick, naked skin, a thick and square head, a very large muzzle, small eyes and ears, thick and heavy body, and short legs. It is supposed to be the behemoth of the Bible. Called also zeekoe, and river horse. A smaller species (H. Liberiencis) inhabits Western Africa.

Definition of Hippopotamus

1. Noun. A large, semi-aquatic, herbivorous (plant-eating) African mammal (''Hippopotamus amphibius'') that spends most of the day living in water, but comes on to land at night to feed. Of all living land animals, only the rhinoceros and elephant are larger. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Hippopotamus

1. [n -TAMI or -TAMUSES]

Medical Definition of Hippopotamus

1. Origin: L, from Gr.; horse + river. Cf. Equine. A large, amphibious, herbivorous mammal (Hippopotamus amphibius), common in the rivers of Africa. It is allied to the hogs, and has a very thick, naked skin, a thick and square head, a very large muzzle, small eyes and ears, thick and heavy body, and short legs. It is supposed to be the behemoth of the Bible. Called also zeekoe, and river horse. A smaller species (H. Liberiencis) inhabits Western Africa. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Hippopotamus

Literary usage of Hippopotamus

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Notes and Queries by Martim de Albuquerque (1851)
"The writer of the accurate history of the hippopotamus in the Penny ... the hippopotamus appears three times in the lower part of the composition, ..."

2. Geological Magazine by Henry Woodward (1902)
"I have formerly stated that all the hippopotamus remains from Madagascar are certainly nearly related to each other, and this relationship may be briefly ..."

3. Essay on the Theory of the Earth by Georges Cuvier, Robert Jameson (1817)
"The one, which is the largest, is so * " hippopotamus, ... rivier paard, hippopotamus,' amongst the animals of Java."—MARSDEN'S History of Sumatra, ..."

4. The Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians by John Gardner Wilkinson (1878)
"hippopotamus, which he has already wounded with three other blades, indicated by the ... Spearing the hippopotamus. about the ropes belonging to the blades, ..."

5. Lake Ngami, Or, Explorations and Discoveries During Four Years' Wanderings by Charles John Andersson, John Charles Frémont (1857)
"hippopotamus HARPOON. The harpoon (of iron), A, is, as seen in the above diagram, short and strong, and provided with a single barb, B. The shaft, ..."

6. The Polar and Tropical Worlds: A Description of Man and Nature in the Polar by Georg Hartwig (1872)
"The hippopotamus :—Is the hippopotamus the Behemoth of Job ?—Habits of the hippopotamus— Its uncouth Aspect—Rogue Hippopotami—Intelligence of the ..."

7. The Encyclopaedia of Sport by Frederick George Aflalo, Hedley Peek (1897)
"E. LENNOX PEEL. were tenanted by innumerable herds of wild animals, have made but little difference to the range of the hippopotamus, whose loud trumpeting ..."

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