squirrelfish

[ skwur-uh l-fish, skwuhr- or, esp. British, skwir- ]
/ ˈskwɜr əlˌfɪʃ, ˈskwʌr- or, esp. British, ˈskwɪr- /

noun, plural (especially collectively) squir·rel·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) squir·rel·fish·es.

any of several brightly colored, nocturnal fishes of the family Holocentridae, inhabiting shallow waters of tropical reefs, especially the reddish Holocentrus ascensionis of the West Indies, armed with sharp spines and scales.

Origin of squirrelfish

First recorded in 1795–1805; perhaps after the sound it makes out of water, likened to a squirrel's bark

Words nearby squirrelfish

squirrel cage, squirrel corn, squirrel monkey, squirrel's-foot fern, squirrel-tail grass, squirrelfish, squirrely, squirt, squirt can, squirt gun, squirting cucumber

British Dictionary definitions for squirrelfish

squirrelfish
/ (ˈskwɪrəlˌfɪʃ) /

noun plural -fish or -fishes

any tropical marine brightly coloured teleost fish of the family Holocentridae

Word Origin for squirrelfish

C18: so called because it can make a squirrel-like noise