trunkfish

[truhngk-fish] /ˈtrʌŋkˌfɪʃ/

Word Origin

noun, plural (especially collectively) trunkfish (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) trunkfishes.

any plectognath fish of the family Ostraciontidae, of warm seas, having a boxlike body encased in bony, polygonal plates.

Also called boxfish.

Origin of trunkfish

1795-1805

First recorded in 1795-1805; trunk + fish

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018.
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Examples from the Web for trunkfish

Historical Examples

The trunkfish (Ostracion) in a hard bony box has no need of rapid progress.

A Guide to the Study of Fishes, Volume 1 (of 2) David Starr Jordan

British Dictionary definitions for trunkfish

trunkfish

/ˈtrʌŋkˌfɪʃ/

noun (pl) -fish, -fishes

any tropical plectognath fish of the family Ostraciidae, having the body encased in bony plates with openings for the fins, eyes, mouth, etc Also called boxfish, cowfish

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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