surgeonfish

English

noun
Definitions
  • Any of many species of reef-dwelling fishes, most of them brightly coloured, of the family Acanthuridae. They are named "surgeonfish" because they bear erectile, scalpel-like, dangerously sharp spines on either side of the caudal peduncle.

Etymology

Compound from English surgeon + 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