linsang
linsang Lexical Profile
linsang Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of four species of small, elusive, tree-dwelling carnivorous mammals native to the tropical forests of Africa and Asia, characterized by slender, elongated bodies, short legs, and exceptionally long, strikingly ringed tails.
"The banded linsang is a remarkably agile climber, spending most of its time hunting small vertebrates in the dense canopy of Southeast Asian rainforests."
Word Nuance & Usage
Though traditionally grouped with civets and genets due to physical similarities, modern genetic studies reveal that Asiatic linsangs are actually the closest living relatives of the feline family.
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into English in the early 19th century from Javanese and Malay 'linsang', a term locally used to describe various small carnivores or otters in Southeast Asia.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.