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plural ichneumons
An Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), found in Africa and southern Europe. quotations examples
when the Ichneumon is to grapple with the Crocodile, he walloweth his body in the mire, then lets the same drie and harden upon him […].
1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […]
An ichneumon wasp. quotations examples
Ada's unique Lorelei Underwing had died, paralyzed by some ichneumon that had not been deceived by those clever prominences and fungoid smudges.
1969, Vladimir Nabokov, Ada or Ardor, Penguin, published 2011, page 43
(mythology) a legendary animal, which kills crocodiles and dragons