goby

[ goh-bee ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) go·by, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) go·bies.

1. any small marine or freshwater fish of the family Gobiidae, often having the pelvic fins united to form a suctorial disk.
2. any fish of the closely related family Eleotridae, having the pelvic fins separate.

goby

/ ˈɡəʊbɪ /

noun

1. any small spiny-finned fish of the family Gobiidae, of coastal or brackish waters, having a large head, an elongated tapering body, and the ventral fins modified as a sucker
2. any other gobioid fish

Word History and Origins

Origin of goby¹

1760–70; < Latin gōbius gudgeon (spelling variant of gōbiō or cōbius ) < Greek kōbiós

Word History and Origins

Origin of goby¹

C18: from Latin gōbius gudgeon, fish of little value, from Greek kōbios

Example Sentences

On their honeymoon, they went to a southern point in San Diego to collect goby fish specimens.

From Scientific American

Organizers of the triathlon did not receive confirmation of the tidewater goby’s presence in the Zuma Beach underpass until late August.

From Los Angeles Times

County’s Department of Beaches and Harbors confirmed that state Fish and Wildlife officials and the regional water board had directed the county to not disturb the tidewater goby.

From Los Angeles Times

Inconveniently, the goby turned up well downstream of the Romeoville site just as the project started.

From Salon

Rhyne’s research lab — which includes breeding toothy queen triggerfish and red-striped yasha gobies— has been working to share his research with breeders as well.

From Seattle Times