manta ray
/ˈmæntə ɹeɪ/ noun
Forms manta rays
- noun Any of several very large pelagic rays formerly of the genus Manta, now placed in genus Mobula, with winglike pectoral fins, a long tail, and two fins resembling horns that project from the head.
Synonyms
manta sea pancake majestic flap-flap majestic sea flap-flap devilfish
Etymology
From Spanish mantarraya, itself a compound from manta and raya; according to Jorge Juan y Santacilia and Antonio de Ulloa, so called “for being broad and long like a quilt”.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “manta ray”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details