- Sphyraena sphyraena
- Barracuda Bar`ra*cu"da, Barracouta Bar`ra*cou"ta,, n.
[Native name.] (Zo["o]l.)
Any of several voracious pikelike marine fishes allied to the
gray mullets, constituting the genus {Sphyr[ae]na} and family
{Sphyr[ae]nid[ae]}. The great barracuda ({Sphyr[ae]na
barracuda}) of the West Indies, Florida, etc., is often six
feet or more long, and as dangerous as a shark. In Cuba its
flesh is reputed to be poisonous. {Sphyr[ae]na Argentea} of
the Pacific coast and {Sphyr[ae]na sphyr[ae]na} of Europe are
smaller species, and are used as food.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
Note: That of Europe and our Atlantic coast is {Sphyr[ae]na spet} (or {Sphyr[ae]na vulgaris}); a southern species is {Sphyr[ae]na picuda}; the Californian is {Sphyr[ae]na argentea}. [1913 Webster]
2. (Zo["o]l.) A large edible fresh-water fish of Australia and New Zealand ({Thyrsites atun}). [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
