fighting fish

American  

noun

1. any of several brightly colored labyrinth fishes of the genus Betta, found in Southeast Asia.

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fighting fish British  

noun

1. any of various labyrinth fishes of the genus Betta , esp the Siamese fighting fish

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Example Sentences

Other species making use of color for courtship include the fan-throated lizard, with a wattle of iridescent blue and orange, and the Siamese fighting fish, its tail bristling with blood-orange finnage.

From New York Times • Dec. 31, 2020

When fly-fishing a river, even the best day involves minutes — not hours — of actually fighting fish.

From Washington Post • Jul. 9, 2015

The cabinets are crammed with slides splashed with the fuchsia-stained genomes of fruit bats, Siamese fighting fish and ostriches.

From New York Times • Mar. 5, 2015

Siamese fighting fish are bred to bring out their violent characters Siamese fighting fish take gulps of air from above water so they can continue to clash, say scientists.

From BBC • Nov. 29, 2012

A row of glass jars Brother Khoi used to raise fighting fish.

From "Inside Out and Back Again" by Thanhha Lai