trunkfish

[ truhngk-fish ]

noun

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

1. any plectognath fish of the family Ostraciontidae, of warm seas, having a boxlike body encased in bony, polygonal plates.

trunkfish

/ ˈtrʌŋkˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any tropical plectognath fish of the family Ostraciidae , having the body encased in bony plates with openings for the fins, eyes, mouth, etc Also calledboxfishcowfish

Word History and Origins

Origin of trunkfish¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; trunk + fish

Example Sentences

The trunkfish (Ostracion) in a hard bony box has no need of rapid progress.

From Project Gutenberg