any of various small freshwater voracious fishes of the genus Serrasalmus and related genera, of tropical America, having strong jaws and sharp teeth: family Characidae (characins)
caribe in American English
(kəˈribeɪ)
nounWord forms: pluralcaˈribes or caˈribe
piranha
Word origin
AmSp, lit., Carib (see cannibal): so named from its voracity
caribe in American English
(kəˈribi, Spanish kɑːˈʀive)
nounWord forms: plural-bes (-biz, Spanish -ves)
piranha
Word origin
[1865–70; ‹ Sp: cannibal, carib]This word is first recorded in the period 1865–70. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: dunk, goulash, maverick, racism, valence