gavial

British  

/ ˈɡærɪəl, ˈɡeɪvɪəl /

noun

1. a large fish-eating Indian crocodilian, Gavialis gangeticus, with a very long slender snout: family Gavialidae

2. a SE Asian crocodile, Tomistoma schlegeli, similar to but smaller than the gavial

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Etymology

Origin of gavial

C19: from French, from Hindi ghariyāl

Example Sentences

The only non-caiman was a gavial resembling modern ones in India, with a long, thin snout for fish-catching.

From Reuters • Feb. 24, 2015

On seeing the gavial as it started toward the girl, he had quickly drawn out his knife, and sharpened the other end of the stake while coming across the beach.

From The Castaways by Pearse, Lolbran

Alligators are found in most of the rivers, and the gavial is less frequently met with.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 3 "Borgia, Lucrezia" to "Bradford, John" by Various

All at once the disengaged arm made a long clutch forward and grasped the upper jaw of the gavial.

From The Castaways by Pearse, Lolbran

Certainly there is none more to be dreaded than the gavial crocodile; yet the great ape, judging by its present attitude, was in no sense afraid of it.

From The Castaways by Pearse, Lolbran