Piranha Definition
piränə, piranə; piränyə
piranhas
noun
piranhas
Any of various small South American freshwater bony fishes (family Serrasalmidae, order Cypriniformes) having strong jaws and very sharp teeth: they hunt in schools, attacking any animals, including human beings.
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Piranha
Noun
Singular:
piranha
Plural:
piranhasOrigin of Piranha
The full term may have been pira nya, a variant of pira'ya (“scissor-fish”), in Old Tupi.
From Wiktionary
It may be from Old Tupi sanha, sainha (“tooth”), or a Guaraní cognate of the same.
From Wiktionary
It may be from Old Tupi anhá, meaning "bad" or "devil" in Tupi-Guarani.
From Wiktionary
Portuguese from Tupí pirá fish ánha teeth
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
It may be from Old Tupi ánha.
From Wiktionary
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