arowana

English

Asian arowana, Scleropages formosus
African arowana, Heterotis niloticus
black arowana, Osteoglossum ferreirai

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from New Latin, specific epithet of Osteoglossum arowana (now Osteoglossu bicirrhosum), borrowed from Guyanese Kari'na arawana (“the fish Osteoglossum bicirrhosum”; or a like form in Macushi), borrowed, probably via Nheengatu arawanã, from Old Tupi aruanã.[1]

Noun

arowana (plural arowanas)

  1. Any of various large freshwater fish belonging to the family Osteoglossidae (especially from genera Heterotis, Osteoglossum, and Scleropages), found in South America, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Africa. These fish are mainly carnivorous and are characterized by large, bony scales, a toothed tongue, and a wide, slanted mouth.
    1. (US) Scleropages formosus (Asian bonytongue)

Hypernyms

Derived terms

Translations

References

  1. ^ “arowana”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
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