cayman

[ key-muh n ]

/ ˈkeɪ mən /

noun, plural cay·mans.

caiman.

Nearby words

cayenne pepper, cayes, cayey, cayley, cayley, arthur, cayman, cayman islands, cayuga, cayuga lake, cayuse, caz

Definition for cayman (2 of 2)

caiman

or cay·man

[ key-muh n ]

/ ˈkeɪ mən /

noun, plural cai·mans.

any of several tropical American crocodilians of the genus Caiman and allied genera: some are endangered.

Origin of caiman

1570–80; < Spanish caimán < Carib

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cayman

The British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Cook Islands, Belize, and Switzerland.
This Is Where the World’s Richest People Hide Their Money|Eliza Shapiro|April 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign toasted its top donors Wednesday aboard a 150-foot yacht flying the flag of the Cayman Islands.
RNC Diary: The Price Of The Party|David Frum|August 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Biggest response: "He holds as much as $8 million in accounts in the Cayman Islands to avoid paying taxes on it."
Interesting Research on Voters and "Getting Better"|Michael Tomasky|June 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He railed about how the law was being obstructed in Guantánamo Bay and about money laundering in the Cayman Islands and in London.
Assange Addresses Occupy London Protesters|Mike Giglio|October 15, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Meanwhile the cayman reared his enormous head out of the water, threw himself upon the horse, and seized him by the saddle.
The Story of Magellan and The Discovery of the Philippines|Hezekiah Butterworth
He could not see all the bay, but a vessel could only anchor at one spot and Cayman was not there.
Kit Musgrave's Luck|Harold Bindloss
Perhaps no animal in existence bears more decided marks in his countenance of cruelty and malice than the cayman.
Wanderings in South America|Charles Waterton
Cayman's deck was sharply slanted; sometimes she lifted her lower side and one felt her bilge work in the sand.
Kit Musgrave's Luck|Harold Bindloss
He did not know if he hoped Cayman had been blown ashore, but if she were wrecked, the crew might have saved some stores.
Kit Musgrave's Luck|Harold Bindloss

British Dictionary definitions for cayman (1 of 2)

cayman

caiman

/ (ˈkeɪmən) /

noun plural -mans

any tropical American crocodilian of the genus Caiman and related genera, similar to alligators but with a more heavily armoured belly: family Alligatoridae (alligators, etc)

Word Origin for cayman

C16: from Spanish caimán, from Carib cayman, probably of African origin

British Dictionary definitions for cayman (2 of 2)

caiman

/ (ˈkeɪmən) /

noun plural -mans

a variant spelling of cayman

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cayman

caiman

also cayman, 1570s, from Portuguese or Spanish caiman, from Carib acayouman "crocodile," or perhaps from a Congo African word applied to the reptiles in the new world by African slaves. "The name appears to be one of those like anaconda and bom, boma, which the Portuguese or Spaniards very early caught up in one part of the world, and naturalized in another." [OED]

cayman

Nearby words

Definition for.css-ylq2vz{color:#1a1a1a;} cayman (2 of 2)

caiman

or cay·man

noun, plural cai·mans.

Origin of caiman

Examples from the Web for cayman

British Dictionary definitions for cayman (1 of 2)

cayman

caiman

noun plural -mans

Word Origin for cayman

British Dictionary definitions for cayman (2 of 2)

caiman

noun plural -mans

Word Origin and History for cayman

caiman

Definition for cayman (2 of 2)