parrotfish

[ par-uht-fish ]

noun

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

1. any of various chiefly tropical marine fishes, especially of the family Scaridae: so called because of their brilliant coloring and the shape of their jaws.

parrotfish

/ ˈpærətˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any brightly coloured tropical marine percoid fish of the family Scaridae, having parrot-like jaws
2. any of various brightly coloured marine fish of the family Labridae
3. any of various similar fishes

Word History and Origins

Origin of parrotfish¹

First recorded in 1705–15; parrot + fish

Example Sentences

He recalls coming across completely uncanny reef noises as he listened back on the recordings from Indonesia, including the grunt of a soldierfish, the scrape of a parrotfish, and the whoop of a damselfish.

From Popular-Science