carnassial

adjective

car·​nas·​si·​al kär-ˈna-sē-əl How to pronounce carnassial (audio)
: of, relating to, or being a tooth of a carnivore often larger and longer than adjacent teeth and adapted for cutting rather than tearing
carnassial noun

Word History

Etymology

French carnassier carnivorous, ultimately from Latin carn-, caro

First Known Use

circa 1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of carnassial was circa 1852

Dictionary Entries Near carnassial

Cite this Entry

“Carnassial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carnassial. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

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