paca

(redirected from Gibnut)
Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia.
Related to Gibnut: Cuniculus paca, coatimundi

pa·ca

 (pä′kə, păk′ə)
n.
Either of two nocturnal burrowing rodents of the genus Cuniculus of South and Central America, C. paca, found in lowland forested regions, or C. taczanowskii, found at higher elevations.

[Portuguese and American Spanish, both from Tupí páca.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

paca

(ˈpɑːkə; ˈpækə)
n
(Animals) a large burrowing hystricomorph rodent, Cuniculus paca, of Central and South America, having white-spotted brown fur and a large head: family Dasyproctidae
[C17: from Spanish, from Tupi]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pa•ca

(ˈpɑ kə, ˈpæk ə)

n., pl. -cas.
either of two large, white-spotted, almost tailless tropical American rodents of the genus Cuniculus.
[1650–60; < Sp or Portuguese < Tupi]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.paca - large burrowing rodent of South America and Central Americapaca - large burrowing rodent of South America and Central America; highly esteemed as food
gnawer, rodent - relatively small placental mammals having a single pair of constantly growing incisor teeth specialized for gnawing
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
References in periodicals archive ?
In Central America it is called "gibnut" or "gibnot" (Belize), "tepezcuintle" (Guatemala and Costa Rica), "conejo pintado" (Panama).
The gibnut is a large rodent like an overfed hamster and it was being fattened for the pot in a local cafe.