clingfish

[kling-fish]

noun

plural

clingfish ,

plural

clingfishes .

1. any fish of the family Gobiesocidae, having a sucking disk on the abdomen for clinging cling to stones, debris, etc.

clingfish

/ ˈklɪŋˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any small marine teleost fish of the family Gobiesocidae, having a flattened elongated body with a sucking disc beneath the head for clinging to rocks, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of clingfish¹

First recorded in 1890–95; cling ¹ + fish

Example Sentences

When the researchers pitted euthanized clingfish against eight manufactured suction cups, the fish held fast to eight materials ranging from glass to the grittiest sandpaper.

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Scanning electron microscope images showed that the clingfish's suction cup is bordered with filaments similar in size to those on the sticky feet of geckos, according to a paper online today in .

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The researchers hope that the clingfish's superior suction cup may show the way to artificial devices that can better adhere to rough, wet surfaces.

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