cuttlefish

American  

[kuht-l-fish] / ˈkʌt lˌfɪʃ /

noun

cuttlefishes plural

1. any of several cephalopods, especially of the genus Sepia, having eight arms with suckers and two tentacles, and ejecting a black, inklike fluid when in danger.

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cuttlefish British  

/ ˈkʌtəlˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: cuttle.  any cephalopod mollusc of the genus Sepia and related genera, which occur near the bottom of inshore waters and have a broad flattened body: order Decapoda (decapods) See also squid 1

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Etymology

Origin of cuttlefish

1400–50; late Middle English codel, Old English cudele cuttlefish + fish

Example Sentences

Cuttlefish hails from the Mediterranean and looks like a mix of squid and octopus.

From Salon • Sep. 21, 2021

Brookfield and the Cuttlefish turned to Adirondack Studios, a fabrication firm that helped create “Star Wars” and “Frozen” attractions at Disney properties in Orlando, Florida.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 13, 2021

Cuttlefish hatch as miniature versions of adults rather than having a larval phase like many octopus and squid, which in his experience makes feeding and caring for cuttlefish easier.

From New York Times • Jul. 9, 2021

Cuttlefish and their kin form tentacles by deploying the same genes that direct the growth of arms in humans and legs in spiders — despite the fact that these animal groups evolved limbs independently.

From Nature • Jun. 20, 2019

The saint Yakushi Niurai of the Cuttlefish, whose image thou carriest, desires to have his place in this village, and he will heal this plague.

From Tales of Old Japan by Redesdale, Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford, Baron

Related Words

• abalone
• clam
• snail