‖ Scarus
(ˈskɛərəs)
Pl. scari (ˈskɛəraɪ).
[L. scarus, a. Gr. σκάρος.]
A fish described by ancient writers; in mod. use, the name of the typical genus of the family Scaridæ; a fish of this genus, a parrot-fish. Cf. scar n.4, scare n.3, scaro.
| 1601 Holland Pliny ix. xvii. I. 245 The fish called Scarus..is said to chew cud. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. III. 6 The salmon also is said to be of this number [ruminants]: and, if we may believe Ovid, the scarus likewise. 1803 Shaw Gen. Zool. IV. ii. 394 Green Scarus [etc.]. 1848 Dickens Dombey xii, The sounds of the fish called scari. 1885 Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 324 Ever since the time of Aristotle it has been maintained that the Scarus ruminates. |