doctorfish

[ dok-ter-fish ]

noun

, plural doc·tor·fish·es, (especially collectively) doc·tor·fish.

1. a surgeonfish, especially Acanthurus chirurgus, of the West Indies, having a bluish body and black tail.

Word History and Origins

Origin of doctorfish¹

First recorded in 1825–35; so named from the knifelike rays on its tail

Example Sentences

Oversteegen also posted the photo to Facebook, noting the fish was likely a Caribbean Blue Tang, also known as a blue tang, blue tang surgeonfish, or a blue doctorfish.

From Fox News

Telling Detail His early importing methods in the 1980s included packing parrotfish and doctorfish with ice in suitcases and bringing them back on a plane from Antigua.

From New York Times

Rick watched a pair of brown doctorfish about eight inches long swim by below, then his attention was attracted by a brilliant red squirrelfish peering out of a cleft.

From Project Gutenberg