gavialn.
/ˈɡeɪvɪəl/, /ˈɡavɪəl/, U.S. /ˈɡeɪviəl/ Zoology.
A saurian inhabiting the Ganges, distinguished by its elongated muzzle from the American alligator and the African crocodile.
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the world > animals > reptiles > order Crocodilia (crocodiles and alligators) > [noun] > suborder Eusuchia > family Gavialidae > member of (gavial)
gavial1825
1825 W. Hamilton Hand-bk. Terms Arts & Sci. Gavial.
1830 C. Lyell Princ. Geol. I. 243 The Gangetic crocodile, or Gavial (in correct orthography, Garial) is confined to the fresh water.
1834 A. Burnes Trav. Bokhara III. v. 134 The large alligator is unknown here; but the long-nosed reptile called ‘ghuryal’ abounds.
1849 H. Miller Foot-prints of Creator 296 There are fierce contests in their native jungles, on the banks of the Ganges, between the gavial and the tiger.
1854 R. Owen Struct. Skeleton & Teeth in Orr's Circle Sci.: Org. Nature I. 277 The Gangetic crocodile, called ‘garrhial’ by the Hindoos.
1864 R. Owen Lect. Power of God 40 Gharrials are confined to India; alligators are limited to America.
1878 P. Robinson In my Indian Garden 83 The ghurial is of a finer breed.
1905 Kynoch Jrnl. July 152 On the sandbars Ghurrials in thousands basked in the sun.
1923 Chambers's Jrnl. Dec. 811/1 I had constant opportunity of seeing and observing the habits of the gharial.
1930 Times Educ. Suppl. 29 Nov. p. iv/3 The Zoo has received five young Eastern gharials from Borneo.
Derivatives
ˈgavialid n. a crocodile belonging to the same family as the gavial.
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1889 in Cent. Dict.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1825