hippotamus means obsolete spelling and common present-day misspelling of hippopotamus.
Etymology
Syncopic form of hippopotamus.
noun
- Obsolete spelling and common present-day misspelling of hippopotamus“It is a remarkable fact that when the hippotamus is at liberty in its native stream, not only the ears and the nostrils, but even the ridge over the eyes are of a bright scarlet colour, so brilliant indeed that colour can scarcely convey an idea of the hue.”