plectognath

[ plek-tog-nath ]

adjective

1. belonging to the Plectognathi, a group or order of fishes having the teeth fused into a beak and thick, often spiny, scaleless skin, and including the filefish, globefish, puffer, and triggerfish.

noun

1. a plectognath fish.

plectognath

/ ˈplɛktɒɡˌnæθ /

noun

1. any spiny-finned marine fish of the mainly tropical order Plectognathi (or Tetraodontiformes ), having a small mouth, strong teeth, and small gill openings: includes puffers, triggerfish, trunkfish, sunfish, etc

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the order Plectognathi

Other Words From

• plectog·nathic plec·tog·na·thous [plek-, tog, -n, uh, -th, uh, s], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of plectognath¹

1825–35; < New Latin Plectognathi, plural of Plectognathus, equivalent to plecto- (< Greek plektós plaited, twisted; -o- ) + -gnathus -gnathous

Word History and Origins

Origin of plectognath¹

C19: via New Latin from Greek plektos twisted + gnathos jaw