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Definition of burrfish

burrfish

/ˈbɜːr.fɪʃ/
burr · fish
Plural:burrfishes
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burrfish Lexical Profile

burrfish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of several marine fishes of the family Diodontidae, particularly in the genus Chilomycterus, characterized by a rounded body covered in short, permanently erect spines and the ability to inflate themselves with water or air as a defense mechanism, typically found in warm coastal waters of the western Atlantic and other tropical seas.

Example

"While snorkeling near the coastal seagrass beds, the marine biology students observed a striped burrfish hiding among the vegetation."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for burrfish

• Nearby Words

burqa
burr
burrata
burrfish
burrito
burro
burrow

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'burr' and 'fish', named in the mid-19th century because the fish's short, permanently erect spines resemble the prickly seed case of a plant burr.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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