n.
Pronunciation: p ə - ' rä-n ə ; - ' rän-y ə , - ' ran-
Function: noun
Etymology: Portuguese, from Tupi pir ã́ ja, pir ã́ n y a, from pirá fish + ã́ ja, ã́ n y a tooth
Date: 1861
: any of various usually small So. American characin fishes (genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus ) that have very sharp teeth, often appear in schools, and include some that may attack and inflict dangerous wounds upon humans and large animals ― called also caribe