Main Entry:

man·a·tee

Pronunciation:

\ˈma-nə-ˌtē\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Spanish manatí, probably of Carib origin; akin to Antillean Carib manattoüi manatee

Date:

1555

: any of a genus (Trichechus of the family Trichechidae) of chiefly tropical aquatic sirenian mammals that differ from the related dugong especially in having the tail rounded

[manatee illustration]