Water cavy \Wa"ter ca"vy\ (Zo["o]l.) The capybara. 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.