balloonfishes
|bal-loon-fish|
/bəˈluːn.fɪʃ/
(balloonfish)
inflating fish
Etymology
'balloonfish' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'balloon' + 'fish'; 'balloon' itself came into English from French 'ballon' (from Italian 'ballone'), and 'fish' comes from Old English 'fisc'.
'balloon' entered English via Middle French 'ballon' (from Italian 'ballone'), while 'fish' evolved from Old English 'fisc' (from Proto-Germanic *fiskaz); the compound 'balloonfish' was formed in modern English by combining these elements to name fish that inflate like a balloon.
Initially the elements described a 'fish' and a 'balloon' separately; together they have long been used to mean 'a fish that inflates like a balloon' — a sense that has persisted into modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'balloonfish'.
Balloonfishes were displayed in the educational tank at the marine center.
Noun 2
any of several fish (commonly pufferfish or similar species) that can inflate their bodies into a rounded shape by swallowing water or air, used as a defence against predators.
When threatened, balloonfishes quickly inflate, becoming larger and harder for predators to swallow.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/07 04:18