caïman
caiman, spectacled caiman
noun kah-ee-MAHN Rare
Origin: Spanish 'caimán', from Carib 'acayuman'
Usage Note
Caïman refers to the smaller South American crocodilian distinct from the American alligator. The word entered French via Spanish colonial contact; the plural is caïmans. Often appears in wildlife documentaries about Amazonian fauna.
Examples
"Le caïman surveille les rives du fleuve."
Natural Translation
The caiman watches the riverbanks.
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