Adderfish

/ˈædərfɪʃ/ noun

Definition

A spiky-finned freshwater fish, possibly a member of the stickleback family, named for its resemblance to an adder's head.

Etymology

Compound of 'adder' and 'fish,' named descriptively because the fish's shape or spiny features supposedly resembled an adder's head and aggressive posture.

Kelly Says

Common names mixing animals (like 'adderfish') reveal how people observed nature—they saw the fish's spiky, aggressive appearance and immediately thought 'that looks like a snake!'

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