surgeonfish

[ sur-juhn-fish ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) sur·geon·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) sur·geon·fish·es.

1. any tropical, coral-reef fish of the family Acanthuridae, with one or more sharp spines near the base of the tail fin.

surgeonfish

/ ˈsɜːdʒənˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any tropical marine spiny-finned fish of the family Acanthuridae, having a compressed brightly coloured body with one or more knifelike spines at the base of the tail

Word History and Origins

Origin of surgeonfish¹

1870–75, Americanism; surgeon + fish; so called from the resemblance of its spines to a surgeon's instruments

Example Sentences

Living inside surgeonfish, the bacteria grows to 600 microns long — larger than a grain of salt.

From New York Times

Once our sea legs acclimated to dry land, we enjoyed the fruits of our labor: yellowtail surgeonfish, known locally as cirujano.

From Salon

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

Long-beaked parrotfish, big-eyed squirrelfish, translucent blue disc-shaped surgeonfish, and huge angelfish in a dozen patterns nibbled on brightly colored coral and darted through sea anemones.

From New York Times

Throughout the year, surgeonfish gather in spawning aggregations with every new and full moon.

From National Geographic