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caïman

caiman, spectacled caiman

noun kah-ee-MAHN Rare

Origin: Spanish 'caimán', from Carib 'acayuman'

Usage Note

Caïman refers to the smaller South American crocodilian distinct from the American alligator. The word entered French via Spanish colonial contact; the plural is caïmans. Often appears in wildlife documentaries about Amazonian fauna.

Examples

"Le caïman surveille les rives du fleuve."

Natural Translation

The caiman watches the riverbanks.

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