Yeti

/ˈjɛti/ noun

Definition

A large, ape-like creature said to live in the snowy mountains of the Himalayas, also called the Abominable Snowman.

Etymology

From Tibetan and Sherpa languages 'yeti' or 'metoh,' meaning 'filthy thing' or 'mountain beast.' Became famous in Western culture through 20th-century expeditions and sensationalized newspaper accounts.

Kelly Says

The yeti is a perfect example of cryptozoology—people have found alleged yeti hair, footprints, and feces that turned out to be bears, gorillas, or fabric. Yet the yeti persists in our imagination, filling a gap between what we know about nature and what we don't. It's as much about human curiosity as about any actual animal!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.