/tay"peuhr, teuh pear"/ , n. , pl. tapirs , ( esp. collectively ) tapir .
any of several large, stout, three-toed ungulates of the family Tapiridae, of Central and South America, the Malay Peninsula, and Sumatra, somewhat resembling swine and having a long, flexible snout: all species are threatened or endangered.
[ 1560-70; tapira ]