mongoose

plural mongooses · hypercorrect nonstandard plural mongeese · alternative archaic mungoose

1. Any of several species of generalist predatory carnivores in the family Herpestidae; the various species range in size from rats to large cats. Indian mongooses are predators of venomous snakes, though other mongoose species have similar habits.

   To unsuspecting eyes these mongoose relatives can seem eminently pettable.

   2008 June 20, Edward Rothstein, “Critters of a Wondrous Isle, Meet Your Friend and Foe”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 04 Jan 2022

   3 more examples

   After the mongoose had satisfied its appetite, we proceeded to examine with a pocket lens the wounds he had received from the cobra; and on cleansing one of these places, the lens disclosed the broken fang of the cobra deeply imbedded in the head of the mongoose... We have had the mongoose confined ever since (now four days' time), and it is as healthy and lively as ever.

   1864, John Holmes Agnew et al., The Eclectic Magazine: Foreign Literature

   He was a mongoose, rather like a little cat in his fur and his tail, but quite like a weasel in his head and his habits.

   1924, Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book:Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

   Hannibal Lecter: I think Uncle Jack sees you as a fragile little tea-cup, the finest china used for only special guests. Will Graham: How do you see me? Hannibal Lecter: The mongoose I want under the house when the snakes slither by.

   2013 April 4, Hannibal, season 1, episode 1

   Synonyms: herpestid

2. Any members of family Eupleridae of Malagasy mongooses, only distantly related to the Herpestidae, but resembling them in appearance and habits, with larger ears and ringed tails.