alligatorfish

[ al-i-gey-ter-fish ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) al·li·ga·tor·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) al·li·ga·tor·fish·es.

1. a slender marine fish, Aspidophoroides monopterygius, of Atlantic seas, having overlapping plates covering the body.
2. any of several related fishes of the family Agonidae.

Word History and Origins

Origin of alligatorfish¹

An Americanism dating back to 1765–75; alligator + fish