zoril, zorille (zoril)

[F. zorille (Buffon), NL. zorilla), dim. of zorra, zorro, a fox.] 1. An African animal of the genus Zorilla. - 2. Some Central or South American skunk; one of the Mephitinæ, as the conepate; a zorrino. See cut under Coпера tus. Zorilla (zō-ril'ä), n. [NL. (J. E. Gray): see zoril.] 1. A genus of African skunk-like quadrupeds, representing the subfamily Zorillinæ. The common zoril, or mariput, is Z. striata (or Ictonyz 20 rill a ), a nocturnal, burrowing, carnivorous animal, capable of emitting a very fetid odor, like a skunk. It is as large as a small house-cat, and is entirely striped and spotted IMG:content-2768.png:[graphic][merged small][merged small] posite species in which the African zoril was confounded with some American skunks: whence also the two senses of zoril (which see). 2. [l. c.] A zoril. Zorillinæ (zor-i-li'nē), n. pl. [NL.,