n.
Pronunciation: ' män- ˌ güs, ' mä ŋ -
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural mon · goos · es also mon · geese \ - ˌ g ē s \
Etymology: Hindi & Marathi mãg ū s, from Prakrit ma ṁ g ū sa
Date: 1698
: any of numerous carnivorous mammals (family Herpestidae) that are agile usually ferret-sized mammals sometimes with bands or stripes, feed chiefly on small animals and fruits, and are sometimes grouped with the viverrids in two subfamilies (Herpestinae and Galidiinae)