any small timid ruminant artiodactyl mammal of the genera Tragulus and Hyemoschus, of S and SE Asia: family Tragulidae. They resemble rodents, and the males have long tusklike upper canines
Also called: mouse deer
Word origin
C18: from French, from Old French chevrot kid, from chèvre goat, from Latin capra, feminine of caper goat
chevrotain in American English
(ˈʃɛvrəˌteɪn; ˈʃɛvrətɪn)
noun
any of a family (Tragulidae) of very small, hornless ruminants of S Asia and W Africa,having a three-chambered stomach; mouse deer
Word origin
Fr chevrotin, orig., fawn during first half year < OFr chevrot, dim. of chèvre, she-goat < L capra, fem. of caper, goat: see capriole