Characidae
plural noun
Cha·rac·i·dae
kəˈrasəˌdē
: a family of freshwater bony fishes (order Characiformes) consisting of the characins
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Charac-, Charax, type genus (from Greek charak-, charax pointed stake, or a fish, probably the sea bream) +0 -idae
First Known Use
1911, in the meaning defined above