carnassial

adjective

car·​nas·​si·​al kär-ˈna-sē-əl How to pronounce carnassial (audio)
: of, relating to, or being a tooth of a carnivore often larger and longer than adjacent teeth and adapted for cutting rather than tearing
carnassial noun

Word History

Etymology

French carnassier carnivorous, ultimately from Latin carn-, caro

First Known Use

circa 1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of carnassial was circa 1852

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Cite this Entry

“Carnassial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carnassial. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

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