hyena
n. countablen. a wild animal that looks like a dog and has a long body and short legs. It is famous for its loud, laughing sound and for eating dead animals.
n. a carnivorous mammal of the family Hyaenidae, characterized by a sloping back, short legs, and a long, shaggy tail. Often associated with scavenging and the distinctive vocalizations used for communication.
The hyena ran across the African plains at night.
While often seen as scavengers, hyenas are actually skilled hunters that work together in large groups to take down large prey.
The documentary explored the complex social hierarchy of the hyena clan, revealing that the females hold a dominant position over the males, a rare trait in the animal kingdom.
From Middle English hiena, variant of hyene, from Old French hiene, from Medieval Latin hyēna, from Latin hyaena, from Ancient Greek ὕαινα (húaina). Displaced native Old English nihtgenġe (literally “night walker”).