Other forms: piranhas
A piranha is a small fierce South American fish that attacks in shoals. A shoal of piranha, piranha teeth, feared as a piranha.
The reputation is far bigger than the fish, since most species eat other fish and fruit and only strip a carcass when water is low and food is short. The teeth interlock like scissors, which is what makes the bite so clean.
1nounpiranhaA small fierce South American fish that attacks in shoals.
“A single piranha in the tank cost more than the tank.”
piranha is a fish.
Portuguese piranha comes from Tupi pirania, from pira, fish, and ainha, tooth.
tpw
pirãîa
Spanish
piraña
Portuguese
piranha
English, today
piranha
1869. The term entered English either via Portuguese piranha or Spanish piraña, from tpw pirãîa.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA