Definition

Noun: 1. An immature golden eagle: A young golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) before it has attained its full adult plumage. 2. A monkey of Central America and South America: Refers to the capuchin monkey (genus Cebus or Sapajus), known for the thick hair on its head that resembles a monk's cowl. 3. North American raccoon: A common name for the raccoon (Procyon lotor), particularly in some regional dialects. 4. A raccoon-like omnivorous mammal of Mexico and the southwestern United States: Refers to the ring-tailed cat, cacomistle, or miner's cat (Bassariscus astutus), a mammal related to raccoons, known for its long, bushy tail with distinctive black and white rings.

Usage Examples

• The biologist spotted a ringtail, a juvenile golden eagle, learning to soar on the thermal currents.
• In the rainforest canopy, the clever ringtail (capuchin monkey) used a stone as a tool to crack open nuts.
• After dusk, a ringtail (raccoon) rummaged through the trash cans looking for food.
• The hiker was lucky to catch a glimpse of a nocturnal ringtail () with its strikingly banded tail.

Advanced Usage

• The term ringtail is a prime example of a polysemous word, where one word form has multiple, distinct meanings. The specific meaning is entirely dependent on zoological and regional context.
• In falconry and ornithology, a ringtail specifically denotes an immature female golden eagle. An immature male is typically called a "ringtail tiercel."

Variants and Related Words

• Ring-tailed (adj): Having a tail marked with rings of color.
  • The ring-tailed lemur is a different species native to Madagascar.
• Cacomistle (n): Another name for the mammal .
• Capuchin (n): The more common and precise name for the monkey species.

Synonyms

1. (For immature eagle): Juvenile golden eagle.
2. (For monkey): Capuchin monkey, organ grinder monkey.
3. (For raccoon): Raccoon, coon (informal).
4. (For ): Ring-tailed cat, cacomistle, miner's cat, civet cat (regional).

Related Idioms or Phrases

• There are no common idioms using ringtail. Its use is almost exclusively zoological.

Noun

1. an immature golden eagle
2. monkey of Central America and South America having thick hair on the head that resembles a monk's cowl
3. North American raccoon
4. raccoon-like omnivorous mammal of Mexico and the southwestern United States having a long bushy tail with black and white rings