stickleback

American  

[stik-uhl-bak] / ˈstɪk əlˌbæk /

noun

1. any of the small, pugnacious, spiny-backed fishes of the family Gasterosteidae, inhabiting northern fresh waters and sea inlets, the male of which builds and guards the nest.

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stickleback British  

/ ˈstɪkəlˌbæk /

noun

1. any small teleost fish of the family Gasterosteidae, such as Gasterosteus aculeatus ( three-spined stickleback ) of rivers and coastal regions and G. pungitius ( ten-spined stickleback ) confined to rivers. They have a series of spines along the back and occur in cold and temperate northern regions

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Etymology

Origin of stickleback

1400–50; late Middle English stykylbak, equivalent to Old English sticol scaly + bæc back ¹

Example Sentences

His doctoral thesis involved years watching the aggressive mating dance of the 10-spined stickleback.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

One stickleback will begin approaching, then wait to see whether another will approach a little closer.

From Scientific American • Oct. 20, 2023

Earlier this month, Krantz visited a stickleback translocation effort that he helped to organize.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2023

It opened in 1934 near the Ballard Locks, featuring Alaska stickleback, pipe fish, yellow-banded perch, blennies and cultus cod, according to HistoryLink.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 28, 2022

There are a number of species of the stickleback, some living in fresh water and some being marine.

From Natural History in Anecdote Illustrating the nature, habits, manners and customs of animals, birds, fishes, reptiles, etc., etc., etc. by Various