caiman

Meaning

Noun

• Any of the relatively small crocodilians of genus Caiman, within family Alligatoridae.
• A crocodilian of the subfamily Caimaninae, which includes the very large black caiman.
• A semi-aquatic lizard, of the genus Dracaena, found in South America. To differentiate from caimans, they are referred to as caiman lizards.

Origin

• From Spanish caiman or Portuguese caimão, from Galibi Carib acayouman.