porcupine fish en · NOUN
Meanings
-
Any of several tropical fish species in the family Diodontidae that are covered with sharp spines and inflate themselves when threatened.
I took a knife down from where it hung on the side of the fireplace, & place the sharp tip against the taut body of the porcupine fish.
2001, Richard Flanagan, Gould's Book of Fish, Vintage, published 2016, page 161:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| porcupine fish | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| porcupine fishes | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| porcupine-fish | alternative | lexicographic | |
| porcupinefish | alternative | lexicographic |
Synonyms
Translations (6)
de Igelfisch (a fish species that inflates itself when threatened to expose spines) · pl najeżka (a fish species that inflates itself when threatened to expose spines) · mkj joi (a fish species that inflates itself when threatened to expose spines) · fi siilikala (a fish species that inflates itself when threatened to expose spines) · mi kōpūtōtara (a fish species that inflates itself when threatened to expose spines) · pt baiacu (a fish species that inflates itself when threatened to expose spines)