soldierfish

[sohl-jer-fish]

noun, plural (especially collectively) sol·dier·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) sol·dier·fish·es.

any of several squirrelfishes of the family Holocentridae.
any of various other brightly colored fishes.

Origin of soldierfish

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; so called from its sharp spines and rough scales

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018