guinea pig
Furry experiment subject
A guinea pig is a small, docile rodent kept as a pet or used in laboratory research.
Despite the name, guinea pigs are neither pigs nor from Guinea—they're South American rodents.
The research association gives rise to the figurative sense: a person or thing used as a test subject for something new or experimental.
I'll be the guinea pig and try the new software first.
One who keeps company
- cageBarred confinement structure
- hutchCage for small pets
- beddingMaterials covering a mattress
- timothy hayDried perennial grass fodder
alfalfa · pellets · water bottle · grooming · veterinarian · squeak · whistle · popcorning
Soft and light-textured
- furryCovered in soft hair
- adorableExtremely endearing
- cuddlyPleasantly huggable
- rosetteCircular ribbon ornament
Abyssinian · Peruvian · silkie · tricolor · calico · roan · agouti · longhaired
Tailless South American rodent
- herbivorePlant-only consumer
- mammalWarm-blooded, milk-producing animal
- taillessHaving no rear appendage
- incisorsFront cutting teeth
gnawing · grazing · crepuscular · quadruped · burrow · foraging
Pacific coast republic
- AndesSouth American western range
- IncaAncient Peruvian civilization member
- QuechuaAndean indigenous language family
- indigenousOriginating in a region
domestication · traditional · cuisine · roasted · festival · ritual · livestock · highland
Matter under discussion
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- laboratoryFacility for scientific investigation
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- biomedicalConcerning biology and medicine
pharmacology · toxicology · testing · clinical · protocol · ethics · vivisection · dosage
companion
One who keeps company
timothy hay · alfalfa · pellets · water bottle · grooming · veterinarian · squeak · whistle · popcorning · cuddle
fluffy
Soft and light-textured
rosette · Abyssinian · Peruvian · silkie · tricolor · calico · roan · agouti · longhaired · shorthaired
cavy
Tailless South American rodent
- herbivorePlant-only consumer
- mammalWarm-blooded, milk-producing animal
- taillessHaving no rear appendage
incisors · gnawing · grazing · crepuscular · quadruped · burrow · foraging
Peru
Pacific coast republic
- AndesSouth American western range
- IncaAncient Peruvian civilization member
- QuechuaAndean indigenous language family
indigenous · domestication · traditional · cuisine · roasted · festival · ritual · livestock · highland · South America
subject
Matter under discussion
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- laboratoryFacility for scientific investigation
- trialJudicial examination of claims
biomedical · pharmacology · toxicology · testing · clinical · protocol · ethics · vivisection · dosage · model
- Fluffy PetsPomeranian, Persian cat, Maine Coon, Bichon Frise, Maltese
- furry mammalsbeaver, chinchilla, fox, mink, otter
- pet rodentshamster, gerbil, mouse, rat, chinchilla
- rodentsmouse, rat, squirrel, mice, beaver
- small mammalsmouse, mice, rat, rats, hamster
- small petshamster, gerbil, mouse, rabbit, rat
guinea pigexperimenter
One who tests hypotheses
researcher · scientist · tester · control group · investigator
guinea piggold standard
Measure of ultimate quality
tried and true · time-tested · standard of care · benchmark · known quantity