zonkey

noun

zon·​key ˈzäŋ-kē How to pronounce zonkey (audio)
ˈzəŋ-,
ˈzȯŋ-
plural zonkeys
: a hybrid between a zebra and a donkey : zedonk
A zonkey is strong for its size and makes a powerful pack animal.John Strohm
Just call them Romeo and Zoo-liet: a male zebra hopped a fence at an Italian animal preserve to mate with his seemingly illicit lover, a female donkey. Their offspring? A zonkey, of course, which zookeepers promptly named Ippo.Time

Examples of zonkey in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Her pet zonkey makes every brow furrow. Washington Post, 13 Jan. 2022

Word History

Etymology

z(ebra) + (d)onkey

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of zonkey was in 1919

Dictionary Entries Near zonkey

Cite this Entry

“Zonkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zonkey. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!