Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun, plural hip·po·pot·a·mus·es, hip·po·pot·a·mi [hip-uh–pot–uh-mahy] /ˌhɪp əˈpɒt əˌmaɪ/.
- a large herbivorous mammal, Hippopotamus amphibius, having a thick hairless body, short legs, and a large head and muzzle, found in and near the rivers, lakes, etc., of Africa, and able to remain under water for a considerable time.
noun plural -muses or -mi (-ˌmaɪ)
- a very large massive gregarious artiodactyl mammal, Hippopotamus amphibius, living in or around the rivers of tropical Africa: family Hippopotamidae. It has short legs and a thick skin sparsely covered with hair
- pigmy hippopotamus a related but smaller animal, Choeropsis liberiensis
1560s, from Late Latin hippopotamus, from Greek hippopotamus “riverhorse” (earlier ho hippos ho potamios “the horse of the river”), from hippos “horse” (see equine) + potamos “river, rushing water” (see potamo-). Replaced Middle English ypotame (c.1300), which is from the same source but via Old French. Glossed in Old English as sæhengest.
Ypotamos comen flyngynge. … Grete bestes and griselich [“Kyng Alisaunder,” c.1300]