paca

[ pah-kuh, pak-uh ]

/ ˈpɑ kə, ˈpæk ə /

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noun

a large, white-spotted, almost tailless rodent, Agouti paca, of Central and South America, having features resembling a guinea pig and rabbit: valued as food.

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Also called spotted cavy.

Origin of paca

1650–60; <Spanish or Portuguese <Tupi

Words nearby paca

Pablum, Pabst, pabulum, PABX, pac, paca, Pacceka, paccha, pace, pace bowler, pace car

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use paca in a sentence

OUR former description of the Paca was taken from a young one which had not nearly come to its full growth.
Buffon's Natural History. Volume VII (of 10)|Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon
The Paca very easily becomes domesticated, and is very gentle and tractable, unless when much irritated.
Buffon's Natural History. Volume VII (of 10)|Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon
Mr. Paca was continued in Congress until 1778 and rendered valuable service to his country.
Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution|L. Carroll Judson
Upon the firm basis of an honest lawyer Mr. Paca commenced a successful business and built an enduring fame.
Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution|L. Carroll Judson

Soon after he commenced practice at the bar Mr. Paca was elected to the Maryland legislature and became a very useful member.
Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution|L. Carroll Judson

British Dictionary definitions for paca

paca

/ (ˈpɑːkə, ˈpækə) /

noun

a large burrowing hystricomorph rodent, Cuniculus paca, of Central and South America, having white-spotted brown fur and a large head: family Dasyproctidae

Word Origin for paca

C17: from Spanish, from Tupi

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012