Prickleback

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Prickleback \Pric"kle*back`\, Pricklefish \Pric"kle*fish`\, n.
     (Zool.)
     The stickleback.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Stickleback \Stic"kle*back`\, n. [OE. & Prov E. stickle a
     prickle, spine, sting (AS. sticel) + back. See {Stick}, v.
     t., and cf. {Banstickle}.] (Zool.)
     Any one of numerous species of small fishes of the genus
     {Gasterosteus} and allied genera. The back is armed with two
     or more sharp spines. They inhabit both salt and brackish
     water, and construct curious nests. Called also {sticklebag},
     {sharpling}, and {prickleback}.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  prickleback
       n 1: small elongate fishes of shallow northern seas; a long
            dorsal fin consists entirely of spines
       2: small (2-4 inches) pugnacious mostly scaleless spiny-backed
          fishes of northern fresh and littoral waters having
          elaborate courtship; subjects of much research [syn: {stickleback}]