barracouta

American  

[bar-uh-koo-tuh] / ˌbær əˈku tə /

noun

plural

barracouta,

plural

barracoutas

1. snoek.

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barracouta British  

/ ˌbærəˈkuːtə /

noun

1. a large predatory Pacific fish, Thyrsites atun , with a protruding lower jaw and strong teeth: family Gempylidae

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Etymology

Origin of barracouta

C17: variant of _barracuda

Example Sentences

About six feet below the barnacles a cavernous-jawed barracouta, perhaps five feet long, lay motionless but for the easy waving of its fins.

From Project Gutenberg

The gorge, too, was alive with barracoutas and sharks, leaping out of water, or with their stiff triangular fins cutting just above the surface, and sometimes even grazing the blades of the cutter’s oars.

From Project Gutenberg

As buoyant as a cork, he soon came to the surface, and, scrambling upon the stage, he seized a barracouta from the boat, and rushed at his mate.

From Project Gutenberg

Now and again a long, black shadow would sail slowly over the scene of freakish life—the shadow of a passing albacore 176 or barracouta.

From Project Gutenberg

"Not too fast for a barracouta," said Tom; so we put out lines and watched the stretched strings, and listened to the sea.

From Project Gutenberg