guin|ea-pig

guin|ea-pig
1. a short-eared, tailless rodent kept as a pet and for experiments; cavy. It is like a big, fat, harmless rat.
2. Figurative. any person or thing serving as a subject for experiment or observation.
[uncertain allusion to Guinea]
guin|ea-pig «GIHN ee PIHG», verb, -pigged, -pig|ging.
–v.t.
to use as a guinea pig: »

They were guinea-pigged…in disorientation machines that whirled them around till they became physically sick (Time).

–v.i.
to act as a guinea pig: »

I've been guinea-pigging through one psychoanalysis after another (Kevin Wallace).


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • guinea pig — guin′ea pig n. 1) mam a cavy, esp. the stocky, tailless domesticated species Cavia porcellus, raised as a pet and for use in laboratories 2) inf the subject of any sort of test or experiment …   From formal English to slang

  • guinea pig — SYN: Cavia porcellus. * * * guin·ea pig gin ē . n a small stout bodied short eared nearly tailless domesticated rodent of the genus Cavia (C. cobaya) often kept as a pet and widely used in biological research called also cavy * * * guin·ea pig… …   Medical dictionary

  • Guinea pig — Guin ea pig [Prob. a mistake for Guiana pig.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Guinea-pig director — Guin ea pig di*rec tor A director (usually one holding a number of directorships) who serves merely or mainly for the fee (in England, often a guinea) paid for attendance. [Colloq.] [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • Cavia porcellus — Guinea pig Guin ea pig [Prob. a mistake for Guiana pig.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) 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}.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cavy — Guinea pig Guin ea pig [Prob. a mistake for Guiana pig.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) 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}.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • Amerikanische Kinder- und Jugendliteratur — Amerikanische Schulkinder wählen in der kleinen Bibliothek ihrer Grundschule Bücher aus (1938)[1] Die amerikanische Kinder und Jugendliteratur umfasst alle literarischen Arbeiten, die für ein Publikum von Kindern und Jugendlichen geschaffen,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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