A genus of South American fish that produce electric discharges; also the Latinized name for the electrophore device.
From electro- + -phorus (Greek pherein, to carry). As a fish genus, it was named for its electrical capabilities; as a device, it described the apparatus's function.
Electrophorus is both a fish genus AND an 18th-century scientific device—double meanings in science sometimes reveal how nature inspired human invention.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.