scarus

noun

scar·​us

ˈska(a)rəs

1

plural -es : a parrot fish (Sparisoma cretense) of the Mediterranean of excellent table quality and highly esteemed by the ancient Romans

2

capitalized [New Latin, from Latin, parrot fish] : the type genus of Scaridae comprising fishes with the teeth completely consolidated so that the jaws have the appearance of a bird's beak compare parrot fish

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek skaros; probably akin to Greek skairein to skip, leap

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!