Coyote
/kaɪˈoʊti/noun
A wild canine native to North America, known for its adaptability and vocalizations.
Did you know?The English word coyote came into Spanish from Nahuatl coyōtl, the name of the animal in central Mexico, and the coyote’s later role as a trickster figure in Native American storytelling helped turn a real predator into a symbol of cunning.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ḱwōn
“dog”
Classical Nahuatl
Nahuatl
coyōtl
“coyote”
16th Century
Spanish
coyote
“the animal coyote”
18th Century
English
coyote
“the North American wild dog”
Modern English
English
coyote
“a small, adaptable wild canine of western North America”