frogfishes
|frog-fish|
🇺🇸
/ˈfrɑɡfɪʃɪz/
🇬🇧
/ˈfrɒɡfɪʃɪz/
(frogfish)
frog-like fish
Etymology
'frogfish' originates from English, specifically a compound of 'frog' and 'fish', where 'frog' ultimately comes from Old English 'frogga' meaning 'frog' and 'fish' comes from Old English 'fisc' meaning 'fish'.
'frog' changed from Old English 'frogga' and 'fish' from Old English 'fisc'; the compound 'frogfish' arose in Modern English to describe a fish resembling a frog and became the established name for members of the family Antennariidae.
Initially, the compound simply described a fish that resembled a frog; over time it evolved into a specific common name for members of the family Antennariidae ('frogfish').
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'frogfish'.
Frogfishes are often well camouflaged among coral and rocks.
Synonyms
Noun 2
any of various bottom-dwelling anglerfishes of the family Antennariidae, characterized by a globose, often warty body, modified pectoral fins that allow 'walking' on the substrate, and a lure (illicium) used to attract prey.
In the aquarium exhibit, the frogfishes lay motionless until a small fish came near the lure.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/04 05:00