Ameiurus

noun

Am·​ei·​u·​rus

ˌaˌmīˈyu̇rəs

: a genus of freshwater catfishes comprising the North American bullheads

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from a- entry 2 + Greek meiouros tapering (used of a fish's snout), alteration (influenced by meioun to diminish) of myouros, literally, mouse-tailed, from mys mouse + -ouros (from oura tail)

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

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