a variety of cat with a long body and a short brown coat with black or dark brown markings
Abyssinian cat in American English
noun
a breed of domesticated cat originating in Africa, typically having grayish or brownish fur with a reddish undercoat, giving it a brindled appearance
Word origin
[1875–80]This word is first recorded in the period 1875–80. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: cross-fertilization, knockabout, neoclassic, weekend, weekender