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Definition of wimple piranha
wimple piranha
Plural:wimple piranhas
wimple piranha Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A species of specialized freshwater fish (Catoprion mento) native to the Amazon, Orinoco, Essequibo, and Paraguay river basins in South America, characterized by a protruding lower jaw and a unique diet consisting primarily of the scales of other fish.
Example
"Because of its specialized scale-eating habits, the wimple piranha is rarely kept in mixed-species aquariums, as it will actively strip the scales off its tank mates."
Word Origin & Etymology
The common name pairs 'wimple' (a traditional cloth headdress), likely alluding to the distinctively pronounced shape of the fish's lower jaw, with 'piranha', derived from Tupi 'pirá' (fish) and 'sainha' (tooth).
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wimple piranha. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wimple piranha