dragonet

American

[drag-uh-net, drag-uh-nit] / ˌdræg əˈnɛt, ˈdræg ə nɪt /

noun

any fish of the genus Callionymus, the species of which are small and usually brightly colored.

dragonet British

/ ˈdræɡənɪt /

noun

any small spiny-finned fish of the family Callionymidae, having a flat head and a slender tapering brightly coloured body and living at the bottom of shallow seas

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dragonet

1300–50; Middle English < Middle French; dragon, -et

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The reticulated dragonet fish differs only slightly from other dragnet fish—it has only three spines on its gill cover instead of four, and it has a longer snout.

From Slate • Dec. 26, 2012

The male Callionymus lyra has been called the gemmeous dragonet "from its brilliant gem-like colours."

From The Descent of Man by Darwin, Charles

Dracunculus, drā-kun′kū-lus, n. a herbaceous genus of Arace�; a dragonet or goby of genus Callionymus: a genus of worms, the guinea-worm.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

Why the dragonet snapped at him I have no idea.

From Brothers of Pity and Other Tales of Beasts and Men by Ewing, Juliana Horatia Gatty

Another dragonet came hastily up to see what was the matter; but prudently made off again, and left the star-fish and his neighbour as they were.

From Brothers of Pity and Other Tales of Beasts and Men by Ewing, Juliana Horatia Gatty

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023