• solanaceous@beehaw.org
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    11 months ago

    Follow-on serious answer: there are also electric rays, which are known as torpedos. According to Wikipedia, this is from the Latin torpidus meaning “paralyzed” or “numb” (the same root as the English “torpid”). The weapon is named after the fish.

    IIRC some of the other pre-electricity names for electric fish are based on their ability to numb, paralyze or stun people and other creatures.