plectognath

[ plek-tog-nath ]
/ ˈplɛk tɒgˌnæθ /

adjective

belonging to the Plectognathi, a group or order of fishes having the teeth fused into a beak and thick, often spiny, scaleless skin, and including the filefish, globefish, puffer, and triggerfish.

noun

a plectognath fish.

Origin of plectognath

1825–35; < New Latin Plectognathi, plural of Plectognathus, equivalent to plecto- (< Greek plektós plaited, twisted; see -o-) + -gnathus -gnathous

OTHER WORDS FROM plectognath

plec·tog·nath·ic, plec·tog·na·thous [plek-tog-nuh-thuh s] /plɛkˈtɒg nə θəs/, adjective

Words nearby plectognath

plebe, plebeian, plebiscite, plebs, plecopteran, plectognath, plectron, plectrum, pled, pledge, pledge of allegiance

British Dictionary definitions for plectognath

plectognath
/ (ˈplɛktɒɡˌnæθ) /

noun

any spiny-finned marine fish of the mainly tropical order Plectognathi (or Tetraodontiformes), having a small mouth, strong teeth, and small gill openings: includes puffers, triggerfish, trunkfish, sunfish, etc

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to the order Plectognathi

Word Origin for plectognath

C19: via New Latin from Greek plektos twisted + gnathos jaw