Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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

   {Water cavy} (Zo["o]l.), The capybara.

Guinea \Guin"ea\ (g[i^]n"[-e]), n.
   1. A district on the west coast of Africa (formerly noted for
      its export of gold and slaves) after which the Guinea
      fowl, Guinea grass, Guinea peach, etc., are named.

   2. A gold coin of England current for twenty-one shillings
      sterling, or about five dollars, but not coined since the
      issue of sovereigns in 1817.

            The guinea, so called from the Guinea gold out of
            which it was first struck, was proclaimed in 1663,
            and to go for twenty shillings; but it never went
            for less than twenty-one shillings.   --Pinkerton.

   {Guinea corn}. (Bot.) See {Durra}.

   {Guinea Current} (Geog.), a current in the Atlantic Ocean
      setting southwardly into the Bay of Benin on the coast of
      Guinea.

   {Guinea dropper} one who cheats by dropping counterfeit
      guineas. [Obs.] --Gay.

   {Guinea fowl}, {Guinea hen} (Zo["o]l.), an African
      gallinaceous bird, of the genus {Numida}, allied to the
      pheasants. The common domesticated species ({N.
      meleagris}), has a colored fleshy horn on each aide of the
      head, and is of a dark gray color, variegated with small
      white spots. The crested Guinea fowl ({N. cristata}) is a
      finer species.

   {Guinea grains} (Bot.), grains of Paradise, or amomum. See
      {Amomum}.

   {Guinea grass} (Bot.), a tall strong forage grass ({Panicum
      jumentorum}) introduced. from Africa into the West Indies
      and Southern United States.

   {Guinea-hen flower} (Bot.), a liliaceous flower ({Fritillaria
      Meleagris}) with petals spotted like the feathers of the
      Guinea hen.

   {Guinea peach}. See under {Peach}.

   {Guinea pepper} (Bot.), the pods of the {Xylopia aromatica},
      a tree of the order {Anonace[ae]}, found in tropical West
      Africa. They are also sold under the name of {Piper
      [AE]thiopicum}. 

   {Guinea pig}. [Prob. a mistake for Guiana pig.]
      (a) (Zo["o]l.) A small Brazilian rodent ({Cavia cobaya}),
          about seven inches in length and usually of a white
          color, with spots of orange and black.

Source : WordNet®

Cavia cobaya
     n : stout-bodied nearly tailless domesticated cavy; often kept
         as a pet and widely used in research [syn: {guinea pig}]