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Definition of golden jackal

golden jackal

Plural:golden jackals
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golden jackal Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A highly adaptable, medium-sized wild canid native to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia, characterized by its golden-yellow to pale brown coat and an omnivorous diet.

Example

"During our safari in India, we spotted a golden jackal foraging in the tall grass at dusk."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for golden jackal

• Nearby Words

golden eagle
golden flying snake
golden hamster
golden jackal
golden lancehead
golden marguerite
golden rain tree

Word Origin & Etymology

The term combines 'golden' (Old English 'gylden') with 'jackal' (from Turkish 'çakal' and Persian 'shaghal', ultimately from Sanskrit 'srgala'). It is named for its characteristic pale, yellow-gold coat.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Golden jackal. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/golden jackal
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