butterflyfish

[ buht-er-flahy-fish ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) but·ter·fly·fish·es, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) but·ter·fly·fish.

1. any tropical marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae, having large, broad fins or brilliant coloration, or both.
2. flying gurnard.
3. a blenny, Blennius ocellaris, of Europe.

butterflyfish

noun

1. any small tropical marine percoid fish of the genera Chaetodon, Chelmon , etc, that has a deep flattened brightly coloured or strikingly marked body and brushlike teeth: family Chaetodontidae See also angelfish

Word History and Origins

Origin of butterflyfish¹

First recorded in 1730–40; butterfly + fish