triggerfish

[trig-er-fish]

noun

plural

triggerfish ,

plural

triggerfishes .

1. any of various compressed, deep-bodied fishes of the genus Balistes and allied genera, chiefly inhabiting tropical seas, having an anterior dorsal fin with three stout spines: some are edible while others are poisonous.

triggerfish

/ ˈtrɪɡəˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any plectognath fish of the family Balistidae , of tropical and temperate seas. They have a compressed body with erectile spines in the first dorsal fin

Word History and Origins

Origin of triggerfish¹

First recorded in 1880–85; trigger + fish

Example Sentences

Rhyne’s research lab — which includes breeding toothy queen triggerfish and red-striped yasha gobies— has been working to share his research with breeders as well.

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The catch of the day, grilled triggerfish and barracuda, was worth the wait here.

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Snorkeling in the early morning, I was often one of the first people in the water, floating solo above humuhumunukunukuapua’a, or reef triggerfish, as they fed off the coral.

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Eventually, it was determined the animal was likely a triggerfish.

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According to the New York Post, the fish may have been identified as a triggerfish.

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