barracuda

Where does the word "barracuda" come from? It comes from Cariban barracuda, passing through Spanish before entering English (1670s).

Barracuda’s story begins in Cariban: barracuda meant “a large predatory fish.” Possibly the source of the fierce, torpedo-shaped fish's name. By 1670s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as barracuda. Probably from a Cariban language of the West Indies. It reached English by 1670s as barracuda. William Dampier described the fish in his 1697 account of voyages in the Caribbean. Today, barracuda means a large, predatory tropical marine fish known for its speed and sharp teeth.

1. Stage 1 · Cariban · pre-1600s barracuda "a large predatory fish", possibly the source of the fierce, torpedo-shaped fish's name.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1670s barracuda "a large, voracious fish of Caribbean waters", probably from a Cariban language of the West Indies.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1670s barracuda "a large, predatory tropical fish", William Dampier described the fish in his 1697 account of voyages in the Caribbean.