starfish

English

/ˈstɑː(ɹ)fɪʃ/

noun
Definitions
  • Any of various asteroids or other echinoderms (not in fact fish) with usually five arms, many of which eat bivalves or corals by everting their stomach.
  • (obsolete) Any many-armed or tentacled sea invertebrate, whether cnidarian, echinoderm, or cephalopod.
  • (slang) A woman who reluctantly takes part in sexual intercourse, and lays on her back while spreading her limbs.
  • (vulgar) The anus.

Etymology

Compound from English star (celestial body) + English fish (get hold of an object).

Origin

English

fish

Gloss

get hold of an object

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms