Plural of gar; large, elongated predatory fish with long snouts and sharp teeth, found in freshwater and some saltwater environments.
From Old English gær or gar, possibly related to Old Norse geirr (spear), referring to the fish's spear-like snout. The word predates modern English and appears in various Germanic languages. The sharp, pointed jaws resembled a medieval spear to ancient observers.
Gars are living fossils that have barely changed in 150 million years—they're like prehistoric relics still hunting in American rivers, and their name literally means 'spear' because of those terrifying jaws.
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