Swellfish
/ˈswɛl.fɪʃ/noun
A pufferfish, especially one that inflates its body when threatened.
Did you know?Pufferfish inflation is a real defense mechanism: they rapidly ingest water, becoming difficult for predators to swallow, while some species also carry lethal tetrodotoxin.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*swel-
“To swell or become heated; the ancient root behind English “swell”.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peisk-
“Fish; a reconstructed root connected with later words for fish in several Indo-European languages.”
Old English
Old English
swellan
“To swell, grow larger, or become distended.”
Old English
Old English
fisc
“Fish, an aquatic animal; the ancestor of modern English “fish.””
19th Century
English
swellfish
“A fish that swells or inflates itself, used especially for pufferfish.”
Modern English
English
swellfish
“A pufferfish, named for its remarkable ability to inflate its body.”
Explore more surprising origins