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manatee
- 4 dictionary resultsman⋅a⋅tee
[man-uh-tee, man-uh-tee]
–noun
| any of several plant-eating aquatic mammals of the genus Trichechus, of West Indian, Floridian, and Gulf Coast waters, having two flippers in front and a broad, spoon-shaped tail: all species are endangered. |
Origin:
1545–55; < Sp manatí < Carib, but associated with L manātus provided with hands
1545–55; < Sp manatí < Carib, but associated with L manātus provided with hands

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To manatee
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Manatee
Man`a*tee"\, n. [Sp. manat['i], from the native name in Hayti. Cf. Lamantin.] (Zo["o]l.) Any species of Trichechus, a genus of sirenians; -- called alsosea cow. [Written also manaty, manati.] Note: One species (Trichechus Senegalensis) inhabits the west coast of Africa; another (T. Americanus) inhabits the east coast of South America, and the West-Indies. The Florida manatee (T. latirostris) is by some considered a distinct species, by others it is thought to be a variety of T. Americanus. It sometimes becomes fifteen feet or more in length, and lives both in fresh and salt water. It is hunted for its oil and flesh.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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manatee
1555, from Sp. manati (1535), from Carib manati "breast, udder." Often associated with L. manatus "having hands," because the flippers resemble hands.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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