| ichneumon | 1. <zoology> Any carnivorous mammal of the genus Herpestes, and family Viverridae. Numerous species are found in Asia and Africa. The Egyptian species(H. Ichneumon), which ranges to Spain and Palestine, is noted for destroying the eggs and young of the crocodile as well as various snakes and lizards, and hence was considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians. The common species of India (H. Griseus), known as the mongoose, has similar habits and is often domesticated. It is noted for killing the cobra. 2. <zoology> Any hymenopterous insect of the family Ichneumonidae, of which several thousand species are known, belonging to numerous genera. The female deposits her eggs upon, or in, the bodies of other insects, such as caterpillars, plant lice, etc. The larva lives upon the internal tissues of the insect in which it is parasitic, and finally kills it. Hence, many of the species are beneficial to agriculture by destroying noxious insects. Ichneumon fly. See Ichneumon. Origin: L, fr. Gr, lit, the tracker; so called because it hunts out the eggs of the crocodile, fr. To track or hunt after, fr. Track, footstep. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| ichneumonidan | <zoology> Of or pertaining to the Ichneumonidae, or ichneumon flies. One of the Ichneumonidae. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ichneumonides | <zoology> The ichneumon flies. Origin: NL. See Ichneumon. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ichnite | A fossil footprint; as, the ichnites in the Triassic sandstone. Origin: Gr. Track, footstep. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ichnogram | Imprint of the soles of the feet, taken standing. Origin: G. Ichnos, footstep, + gramma, a drawing, fr. Grapho, to write (05 Mar 2000) |
| ichnographic | Of or pertaining to ichonography; describing a ground plot. Origin: Cf. F. Ichonographique. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ichnographical | Of or pertaining to ichonography; describing a ground plot. Origin: Cf. F. Ichonographique. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ichnography | Origin: Gr.; track, footstep + to describe: cf. F. Ichonographie] A horizontal section of a building or other object, showing its true dimensions according to a geometric scale; a ground plan; a map; also, the art of making such plans. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ichnolite | A fossil footprint; an ichnite. Origin: Gr. Track, footstep. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ichnolithology | <study> Same as Ichnology. Origin: Gr. Footstep + -lith. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ichnological | Of or pertaining to ichnology. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ichnology | <geology> The branch of science which treats of fossil footprints. Origin: Gr. A footstep. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ichnotaxon | <zoology> A taxon based on the work of an animal, including fossilized trails, tracks and burrows, made by an animals. The 3rd edition of the Code admits such names as available. (09 Jan 1998) |
| ichor | 1. An ethereal fluid that supplied the place of blood in the veins of the gods. 2. A thin, acrid, watery discharge from an ulcer, wound, etc. Origin: NL, fr. Gr., cf. F. Ichor. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ichoraemia | Sepsis resulting from infection accompanied by an ichorous discharge. Synonym: ichoraemia. Origin: G. Ichor, serum, + rhoia, a flow, + haima, blood (05 Mar 2000) |