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sirenian

noun
si·​re·​ni·​an | \ sī-ˈrē-nē-ən How to pronounce sirenian (audio) \

Definition of sirenian

: any of an order (Sirenia) of aquatic herbivorous mammals (such as a manatee, dugong, or Steller's sea cow) that have large forelimbs resembling paddles, no hind limbs, and a flattened tail resembling a fin
Other Words from sirenian Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about sirenian

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Other Words from sirenian

sirenian adjective

Did You Know?

Sirenian traces back via Latin to Greek seirēn, which is equivalent to our word for the sirens of Greek mythology. And what is the connection between sirens and sirenians? Modern sirenians do not resemble the half bird, half woman creatures who lured sailors to their doom with their sweet singing. But as our example sentence states, sirenians are considered by some to underlie the ancient legends about mermaids. In European folklore mermaids were sometimes called "sirens," and apparently this confusion resulted in the granting of sirenians the name they bear today.

Examples of sirenian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Discovered by the German naturalist Georg Steller around the Bering Sea’s Commander Islands in 1741, this enormous and peculiar sirenian became an easy target for Russian hunters. — Brian Switek, WIRED, "Sea Otters, Hunters, and Steller's Sea Cows – Replaying a Recent Extinction," 24 June 2010

First Known Use of sirenian

1883, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for sirenian

New Latin Sirenia, from Latin siren

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