cavy

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

cavy
    n 1: short-tailed rough-haired South American rodent

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Guinea pig \Guin"ea pig`\ [Prob. a mistake for Guiana pig.]
   1. (Zool.) A small Brazilian rodent ({Cavia porcellus} or
      {Cavia cobaya}), about seven inches in length and usually
      of a white color, with spots of orange and black. Called
      also {cavy}. It is the domesticated form of the wild cavy,
      often kept as a pet and used commonly as an experimental
      animal in laboratory research.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

   2. Hence, [figuratively]: Any animal or person used in an
      experiment; -- also applied to people who are unwillingly
      or unknowingly subjected by authorities to policies or
      procedures which might cause bodily or mental harm.
      [PJC]

   3. A contemptuous sobriquet. [Obs.] --Smollett
      [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Cavy \Ca"vy\, n.; pl. {Cavies}. [NL. cavia, fr. Brazilian
   cabiai: cf. F. cabiai.] (Zool.)
   A rodent of the genera {Cavia} and {Dolichotis}, as the
   guinea pig ({Cavia cobaya}). Cavies are natives of South
   America.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Water cavy} (Zool.), The capybara.
      [1913 Webster]