coelacanth
|coe-la-canth|
C2
/ˈsiː.lə.kænθ/
ancient fish
Etymology
Etymology Information
'coelacanth' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'koilos' meaning 'hollow' and 'akantha' meaning 'spine', referring to the hollow spines of the fish.
Historical Evolution
'koilos' and 'akantha' combined to form the Latin 'coelacanthus', which eventually became the modern English word 'coelacanth'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to the hollow spines of the fish, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a rare order of fish known for its lobed pectoral fins, thought to be extinct until rediscovered in 1938.
The coelacanth was once thought to be extinct until it was found off the coast of South Africa.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/06 04:55