caiman

American  

[key-muhn] / ˈkeɪ mən /

Also cayman

noun

plural

caimans

1. any of several tropical American crocodilians of the genus Caiman and allied genera: some are endangered.

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caiman British  

/ ˈkeɪmən /

noun

1. a variant spelling of cayman

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Etymology

Origin of caiman

First recorded in 1570–80; from Spanish caimán, from Carib

Example Sentences

Karine Aigner spotted a yellow anaconda coiled around the snout of a yacaré caiman while leading a tour group.

From BBC • Oct. 8, 2024

The park, known locally as the Lakes, contained the amount of water needed for the caiman, whose natural habitats largely consist of swamps and marshes.

From Washington Times • Mar. 9, 2023

A run-in with a spider and a later one with a caiman are nerve-racking, since “helping” Keanu now means hurting him down the road.

From Washington Post • Dec. 19, 2022

Featured species there will include a tortoise, an ocelot, a caiman, an anteater known as a tamandua, and, of course, a prehensile-tailed porcupine.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 1, 2022

Under one of the adult caiman’s rear legs, a baby caiman hatches from its egg, and to the left is a coral snake egg.

From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman