Definition

Noun: 1. A small, herbivorous mammal: A dassie is any of several small, thickset, herbivorous mammals native to Africa and the Middle East. They are known for their rodent-like front teeth (incisors) and feet with hooflike toes. They are also commonly called hyraxes or rock hyraxes.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • We spotted a dassie sunning itself on the rocks near the cliff.
  • The dassie is a surprisingly close relative of the elephant, despite its small size.
  • A colony of dassies was living in the crevices of the large boulder.

Advanced Usage

• "Rock dassie": A common term specifically for hyraxes that live in rocky habitats.
  • The rock dassie is well-adapted to its mountainous environment.

Variants and Related Words

• Hyrax (n): The more common scientific and general name for a dassie.
  • The rock hyrax is a social animal.
• Procavia capensis (n): The scientific name for the rock hyrax, a common type of dassie.

Synonyms

• Hyrax: The direct synonym.
• Rock rabbit: A colloquial name used in some regions.

Related Phrases

• Dassie rat (n): A different, unrelated rodent species () found in southern Africa, named for its superficial resemblance to a hyrax.
  • The dassie rat is not a true rat but gets its name from its dassie-like appearance.

Noun

1. any of several small ungulate mammals of Africa and Asia with rodent-like incisors and feet with hooflike toes