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stickleback

(stik′əl bak′)

noun

any of a family (Gasterosteidae, order Gasterosteiformes) of small, bony-plated, marine and freshwater bony fishes with two to eleven sharp spines in front of the dorsal fin: the male builds a nest for the female's eggs

Origin: ME stykylbak < OE sticel, a prick, sting < base of sticca (see stick) + ME bak, back

See stickleback in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of various small freshwater and marine fishes of the family Gasterosteidae, having erectile spines along the back.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English stikelbak

Origin: : Old English sticel, prick; see steig- in Indo-European roots

Origin: + Middle English bak, back; see back¹

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