Chinchilla

(chin-chil'lah.) (Zool.) A little rodent animal, fam. Hystricida, which inhabits the mountain regions of Chili and Peru. It is rarely larger than a rat,has a short tail, and is covered with ashen-colored fur of the finest and softest quality, and extensively used for muffs, tippets,linings of cloaks, trimmings, . [s. 179]