gavial
Britishnoun
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a large fish-eating Indian crocodilian, Gavialis gangeticus, with a very long slender snout: family Gavialidae
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a SE Asian crocodile, Tomistoma schlegeli, similar to but smaller than the gavial
Etymology
Origin of gavial
C19: from French, from Hindi ghariyāl
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The only non-caiman was a gavial resembling modern ones in India, with a long, thin snout for fish-catching.
From Reuters ● Feb. 24, 2015
Alligators are found in most of the rivers, and the gavial is less frequently met with.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 3 "Borgia, Lucrezia" to "Bradford, John" by Various
C. cataphractus is the common crocodile of West Africa, easily recognised by the slender snout which resembles that of the gavial, but the mandibular symphysis does not reach beyond the eighth tooth.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 6 "Coucy-le-Château" to "Crocodile" by Various
The fierce gavial genus is Asian, and abounds in the rivers of India.
From Four Months in a Sneak-Box by Nathaniel H. (Nathaniel Holmes) Bishop
The gavial is found in Asia—particularly in the Ganges and other Indian rivers, and is the crocodile of those parts.
From The Boy Hunters by Unknown
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