HIPPOPOT'AMUS, noun [Gr. a horse, and a river.] The river-horse, an animal that inhabits the Nile and other rivers in Africa. This animal resembles a hog rather than a horse, and was named perhaps from his neighing voice. He has been found of the length of 17 feet. He delights in the water, but feeds on herbage on land.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI