English Explanatory Dictionary

goatfish

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any of the family Mullidae of brightly coloured fish with two barbels on the chin.
  2. Alternative spelling of goat-fish (“mythical beast”).

Word forms

goatfish goatfishes

Etymology

From goat + fish. The Mullidae sense is because of the fish's beard (as it were) seeming like a goat's beard (a goatee). The chimera sense is because the mythical beast is half goat and half fish.

Synonyms

mullid red mullet

Derived words

bicolor goatfish
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