| ruminant | <zoology> Chewing the cud; characterised by chewing again what has been swallowed; of or pertaining to the Ruminantia. Origin: L. Ruminans, -antis, p.pr., cf. F. Ruminant. See Ruminate. <zoology> A ruminant animal; one of the Ruminantia. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| ruminantia | <zoology> A division of Artiodactyla having four stomachs. This division includes the camels, deer, antelopes, goats, sheep, neat cattle, and allies. The vegetable food, after the first mastication, enters the first stomach (r). It afterwards passes into the second (n), where it is moistened, and formed into pellets which the animal has the power of bringing back to the mouth to be chewed again, after which it is swallowed into the third stomach (m), whence it passes to the fourth (s), where it is finally digested. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ruminants | A suborder of the order artiodactyla whose members have the distinguishing feature of a four-chambered stomach. Horns or antlers are usually present, at least in males. (12 Dec 1998) |