manatee

Where does the word "manatee" come from? It comes from Taino manatí, passing through Spanish before entering English (1550s-1600s).

Manatee’s story begins in Taino: manatí meant “a large aquatic mammal with a paddle-shaped tail.” Named the large aquatic mammal seen in Caribbean waters. By 1550s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as manatí. Columbus mistook manatees for mermaids in 1493, noting they were 'not as pretty' as painted. It reached English by 1550s-1600s as manatee. Anglicized from Spanish accounts of Caribbean wildlife. Today, manatee means a large, slow-moving aquatic mammal found in warm coastal waters and rivers.

1. Stage 1 · Taino · pre-1500s manatí "a large aquatic mammal with a paddle-shaped tail", named the large aquatic mammal seen in Caribbean waters.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1550s manatí "a large marine mammal, the manatee", Columbus mistook manatees for mermaids in 1493, noting they were 'not as pretty' as painted.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1550s-1600s manatee "a large, slow-moving aquatic mammal", anglicized from Spanish accounts of Caribbean wildlife.