gymnure

G2Y4M3N1U1R1E1
/ˈdʒɪmˌnjʊər/

noun

A small carnivorous mammal, subfamily Galericinae, related to the hedgehogs and resembling a large rat, which inhabits various parts of Southeast Asia.

Similar
hairy hedgehogmoonrat
OriginNew Latin Gymnura ← Ancient Greek γυμνός →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

noungymnure (plural gymnures)

plural gymnures

  1. A small carnivorous mammal, subfamily Galericinae, related to the hedgehogs and resembling a large rat, which inhabits various parts of Southeast Asia.

    Unlike hedgehogs, all gymnures produce a strong ammoniac smell reminiscent of rotten garlic, the better to establish territories and to deter enemies when frightened.

    2022, Thomas Halliday, Otherworlds, Penguin, published 2023, page 50

    Synonyms: hairy hedgehog, moonrat

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA small carnivorous mammal, subfamily Galericinae, related to the hedgehogs and resembling a large rat, which inhabits various parts of Southeast Asia.

Similar
hairy hedgehogmoonrat

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekγυμνός“naked”
  2. New LatinGymnura
  3. Englishgymnure

From New Latin Gymnura, former genus name, from Ancient Greek γυμνός (gumnós, “naked”) + οὐρά (ourá, “tail”).

More words from New Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian плъхоподобен таралеж
  • плъхоподобен таралеж (plăhopodoben taralež)carnivorous mammal
Finnish rottasiili
  • rottasiilicarnivorous mammal
Polish gołyszek
  • gołyszekcarnivorous mammal
Swedish råttigelkott
  • råttigelkottcarnivorous mammal
Cite this entry
APA

gymnure. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gymnure

MLA

“gymnure.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gymnure. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gymnure,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gymnure.

Source: gymnure on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.