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Definition of barreleye

barreleye

/ˈbær.əl.aɪ/
bar · rel · eye
Plural:barreleyes
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barreleye Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A small, deep-sea argentiniform fish of the family Opisthoproctidae, characterized by highly sensitive, tubular eyes that are typically directed upward to detect the silhouettes of prey in the dimly lit ocean depths.

Example

"The barreleye is famous among marine biologists for its transparent, fluid-filled head dome through which its internal, tubular eyes can look upward."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for barreleye

• Nearby Words

barred grass snake
barrel
barrel cactus
barreleye
barrelful
barrelhead
barren

Word Origin & Etymology

A descriptive compound of 'barrel' and 'eye', coined in reference to the distinctive tubular shape of the fish's highly specialized eyes.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Barreleye. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/barreleye
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