devil ray
1
7.4
- noun
- /ˈdɛvəl reɪ/
:
raya diablo
- The documentary showcased the beauty of the devil ray, highlighting its unique wing-like fins.
Examples
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During our ocean excursion, we were thrilled to see a devil ray swimming in a large school.
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What's a devil ray?
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While swimming in the clear waters, we spotted a devil ray gliding gracefully alongside our boat.
Synonyms
A small manta ray that grows to about four feet wide and swims in groups
Surface Forms
Morphology
devil + ray
The compound is a straightforward noun–noun construction where 'devil' modifies 'ray', so a learner who knows 'devil' and 'ray' can infer it refers to a kind of ray (likely named for a devilish appearance). Specific biological details (size, schooling) are not predictable from the parts, but the core meaning 'a type of ray' is compositionally clear.
Etymology
The noun devil ray comes from how the animal looks: the two long fins near its head can look like 'horns', so people called it a devil and ray describes its flat, wing-like body. That's why devil ray refers to a small sea ray that often swims in schools.