Etymology

manatee

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Today it means: A mostly herbivorous sirenian of the genus Trichechus, having a paddle-like tail and nails on their flippers, found in tropical regions. Full definition →

Spanish manatí ← Proto-Cariban *manatɨ
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The story

  1. Proto-Cariban*manatɨ
  2. Spanishmanatí
  3. English todaymanatee

Borrowed from Spanish manatí, from a Cariban-language term meaning ‘breast’, ultimately from Proto-Cariban *manatɨ; compare Kari'na manaty, Trió manatï, Apalaí manaty, Akawaio manatï, Pemon manatü, Macushi manatî.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.