poeciliid

[ pee-sil-ee-id ]

noun

1. any small New World fish of the family Poeciliidae, of fresh or brackish tropical and temperate waters, including the mosquitofish, guppies, and mollies.

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the family Poeciliidae.

Word History and Origins

Origin of poeciliid¹

< New Latin Poeciliidae, equivalent to Poecili ( a ) name of genus (< Greek poikilía striped, marked with various colors) + -idae -id ²