any of several species of small mammals of the order Hyracoidea, of Africa and the Mediterranean region, having short legs, ears, and tail, and hooflike nails on the toes.
1825-35; < New Latin < Greekhýrax (genitive hýrakos) shrewmouse
Examples from the web for hyrax
Cony is a generic term used to describe many small rock-dwelling mammals including pika and hyrax.
British Dictionary definitions for hyrax
hyrax
/ˈhaɪræks/
noun (pl) hyraxes, hyraces (ˈhaɪrəˌsiːz)
1.
any agile herbivorous mammal of the family Procaviidae and order Hyracoidea, of Africa and SW Asia, such as Procavia capensis (rock hyrax). They resemble rodents but have feet with hooflike toes Also called dassie, ((South African)) rock rabbit
Word Origin
C19: from New Latin, from Greek hurax shrewmouse; probably related to Latin sōrex