chimaera

American  

[ki-meer-uh, kahy-] / kɪˈmɪər ə, kaɪ- /

noun

1. any fish of the family Chimaeridae, the male of which has a spiny clasping organ over the mouth.

2. any similar fish of the group Holocephali, which includes this family.

3. chimera.

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chimaera British  

/ kaɪˈmɪərə, kɪ- /

noun

1. any tapering smooth-skinned cartilaginous deep-sea fish of the subclass Holocephali (or Bradyodonti ), esp any of the genus Chimaera. They have a skull in which the upper jaw is fused to the cranium See also rabbitfish

2. Greek myth a variant spelling of chimera

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Etymology

Origin of chimaera

First recorded in 1795–1805; see origin at chimera

Example Sentences

Hesiod in the eighth or ninth century tells about the Chimaera, and Anteia’s love and the sad end of Bellerophon are in the Iliad.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

As dangerous as the Chimaera, and as rare, the Manticore is reputed to croon softly as it devours its prey.

From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling

“The Chimaera must have done this mischief,” thought Bellerophon.

From My First Cruise and Other stories by Kingston, William Henry Giles

But, in after years, that child took higher flights upon the aerial steed than ever did Bellerophon, and achieved more honourable deeds than his friend’s victory over the Chimaera.

From My First Cruise and Other stories by Kingston, William Henry Giles

So strange was the spectacle, that, though Bellerophon had been all along expecting it, the truth did not immediately occur to him, that here was the terrible three-headed Chimaera.

From My First Cruise and Other stories by Kingston, William Henry Giles