monk seal
Share:
Tweet n. Any of three seals of the genus Monachus of the Hawaiian, Mediterranean, and Caribbean regions, characterized by folds of skin on the neck. The Caribbean monk seal is believed to have become extinct in the mid-twentieth century. [From the resemblance of the skin folds to a monk's cowl.] ![]() (click for a larger image) monk sealHawaiian monk seals Monachus schauinslandi |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.