kelb-el-bahr

noun

¦kelˌbel¦bär
plural -s
: any of several large formidable characin fishes of the Nile and rivers and lakes of tropical Africa that constitute the genus Hydrocyon, reach a length of about three feet, have strong teeth, and in form resemble a salmon

Word History

Etymology

Arabic kalb al-baḥr, literally, the dog of the sea (river, Nile)

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Cite this Entry

“Kelb-el-bahr.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kelb-el-bahr. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.

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