Definition: hyena

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

hyena
     n : doglike nocturnal mammal of Africa and southern Asia that
         feeds chiefly on carrion [syn: hyaena]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Hyena \Hy*e"na\, n.; pl. Hyenas. [L. hyaena, Gr. ?, orig., a
   sow, but usually, a Libyan wild beast, prob., the hyena, fr.
   ? hog: cf. F. hy[`e]ne. See Sow female hog.] (Zo["o]l.)
   Any carnivorous mammal of the family Hy[ae]nid[ae], of
   which three living species are known. They are large and
   strong, but cowardly. They feed chiefly on carrion, and are
   nocturnal in their habits. [Written also hy[ae]na.]

   Note: The striped hyena (Hy[ae]na striata) inhabits
         Southern Asia and a large part of Africa. The brown
         hyena (H. brunnea), and the spotted hyena (Crocuta
         maculata), are found in Southern Africa. The extinct
         cave hyena (H. spel[ae]a) inhabited England and
         France.

   Cave hyena. See under Cave.

   Hyena dog (Zo["o]l.), a South African canine animal
      (Lycaon venaticus), which hunts in packs, chiefly at
      night. It is smaller than the common wolf, with very
      large, erect ears, and a bushy tail. Its color is reddish
      or yellowish brown, blotched with black and white. Called
      also hunting dog.

HYENA, n.  A beast held in reverence by some oriental nations from its
habit of frequenting at night the burial-places of the dead.  But the
medical student does that.