soldierfish

[ sohl-jer-fish ]

noun

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of soldierfish¹

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