sea robin

noun

1. any of various gurnards, especially certain American species of the genus Prionotus, having large pectoral fins used to move across the ocean bottom.

sea robin

noun

1. any of various American gurnards of the genus Prionotus and related genera, such as P. carolinus ( northern sea robin )

Word History and Origins

Origin of sea robin¹

An Americanism dating back to 1805–15

Example Sentences

Yet sea robins are most notable for their distinctively large, fan-shaped dorsal fins and for their six leg-like appendages.

From Salon

Spiny-finned sea robin, blackfish and wayward angelfish swim in the murky ocean tinted green by sheets of algae.

From Seattle Times

Osh, waiting above in the skiff, grabbed the rope and hauled me aboard where I gasped and kicked like a sea robin on a hook.

From Literature

Catie has caught sea bass, porgies and big, mean bluefish and, memorably, a sea robin that seemed to be trying to tell us something before we tossed it back into the waves off Sag Harbor.

From New York Times

A sea robin fillet was grilled high up over the coals until it was just done, juicy, very lightly smoky.

From New York Times