Spikefish
/ˈspaɪkˌfɪʃ/noun
A marine fish, especially one of the small, spiny fishes of the family Triacanthidae.
Did you know?Spikefish are named for their prominent dorsal spines, which can lock upright and make the fish difficult for predators to swallow.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*speyH-
“To point or be sharp; the ancient root associated with spike-like forms.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peisk-
“Fish; the reconstructed root behind several Germanic words for fish.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*spīką
“A sharp point or spike.”
Old English
Old English
spīc
“A spike, pointed object, or ear of grain.”
Old English
Old English
fisc
“Fish.”
Modern English
English
spikefish
“A fish characterized by prominent spines, especially a triacanthid fish.”