of, relating to, or designating the last upper premolar and first lower molar teeth of carnivores, which have sharp edges for tearing flesh
noun
2.
a carnassial tooth
Word origin
C19: from French carnassier meat-eating, from Provençal, from carnasso abundance of meat, from carn meat, flesh, from Latin carō
carnassial in American English
(kɑrˈnæsiəl)
adjective
1.
designating or of teeth of a flesh-eating animal specialized for slicing or shearing rather than tearing, esp. the last premolars of the upper jaw and the first molars of the lower jaw
noun
2.
a carnassial tooth
Word origin
< Fr carnassier, carnivorous < Prov carnasa, bad flesh (+ pejorative -acea) < carn, flesh < L caro: see carnage