caracal

/ˈkæɹ.əˌkæl/

UK: /ˈkæ.ɹəˌkæl/

KÆɹ · əkæl (2 syllables)

English Noun

Definition

A type of cat native to Southern Africa, West Asia, and parts of Central and South Asia, Caracal caracal.

Etymology

From French caracal, from Ottoman Turkish قره قولاق (kara kulak, literally “black ear”), a calque of Classical Persian سیاهگوش (siyāh-gōš). Compare modern Turkish karakulak.