English Explanatory Dictionary

stickleback

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any one of numerous species of small fish of the family Gasterosteidae. The back is armed with two or more sharp spines. They inhabit both salt and brackish water, and construct nests from weeds.

Word forms

stickleback sticklebacks

Etymology

From dialectal stickle (“a prickle, spine, sting”), from Old English sticel + bæc. See stick (transitive verb) and compare banstickle.

Synonyms

minnow sticklebag sharpling

Derived words

three-spined stickleback
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