Characidae

plural noun

Cha·​rac·​i·​dae

kəˈrasəˌdē

: a family of freshwater bony fishes (order Characiformes) consisting of the characins

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Charac-, Charax, type genus (from Greek charak-, charax pointed stake, or a fish, probably the sea bream) +0 -idae

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

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