any hystricomorph rodent of the genus Dasyprocta, of Central and South America and the Caribbean: family Dasyproctidae. Agoutis are agile and long-legged, with hooflike claws, and are valued for their meat
2.
a pattern of fur in certain rodents, characterized by irregular stripes
Word origin
C18: via French and Spanish from Guarani
agouti in American English
(əˈguti)
nounWord forms: pluralaˈgoutis
a rabbit-sized, nocturnal rodent (family Dasyproctidae) with grizzled fur, found in tropical America