Etymology

arowana

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Today it means: Any of various large freshwater fish belonging to the family Osteoglossidae (especially from genera Heterotis, Osteoglossum, and Scleropages), found in South America, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Africa. These fish are mainly carnivorous and are characterized by large, bony scales, a toothed tongue, and a wide, slanted mouth. Full definition →

Kari'na arawana ← Nheengatu arawanã ← Old Tupi aruanã
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The story

  1. Old Tupi · derived fromaruanã
  2. Nheengatu · derived fromarawanã
  3. Kari'na · derived fromarawana
  4. English todayarowana

Borrowed from New Latin, specific epithet of Osteoglossum arowana (now Osteoglossu bicirrhosum), borrowed from Guyanese Kari'na arawana (“the fish Osteoglossum bicirrhosum”; or a like form in Macushi), borrowed, probably via Nheengatu arawanã, from Old Tupi aruanã.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.