Bagre

/bɑːˈɡreɪ/ noun

Definition

A type of large catfish found in tropical waters, especially in Central and South America.

Etymology

From Portuguese or Spanish 'bagre', which likely comes from Tupi or other indigenous South American languages. The word traveled to Europe through colonial trade and scientific naming.

Kelly Says

The bagre can grow enormous and was so important to indigenous peoples that the fish's name traveled across oceans and is still used in zoology today—a linguistic fossil of colonialism.

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