prairie-wolf

A lone prairie-wolf howls under a full moon.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A canine mammal: "prairie-wolf" refers to the coyote (Canis latrans), a wolf-like animal native to North America, typically found in open prairies and deserts.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The prairie-wolf howled at the moon from the edge of the grassland. (A coyote vocalizing at night.)
  • Farmers often hear the yips of a prairie-wolf near their livestock. (The sound made by a coyote in rural areas.)

Advanced Usage

• "prairie-wolf" as a synonym for "coyote": In literary or descriptive contexts, "prairie-wolf" emphasizes the animal's habitat.
  • The lone prairie-wolf trotted across the dusty plain. (The coyote moved across the dry prairie landscape.)

Variants and Related Words

• Prairie wolf (n): an alternative spelling or form of the same word.

  • The prairie wolf is known for its adaptability. (The coyote is a versatile creature.)

• Coyote (n): the more common modern term for Canis latrans.

  • Coyotes are often called prairie-wolves in older texts. (Historical references use this name.)

Synonyms

• Coyote: the standard English name for the animal.
• Brush wolf: another regional term for the coyote in some parts of North America.

Related Idioms

• (No direct idioms with "prairie-wolf" are common; however, related to coyotes):
  • Coyote ugly: a slang idiom referring to an unattractive person (from a joke about waking up next to someone unattractive, as if a coyote were there).

    • He woke up next to a stranger and thought, "This is coyote ugly." (A humorous expression of regret.)