cuttlefish
cuttlefish Lexical Profile
cuttlefish Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The firm, flavorful flesh of this marine mollusk eaten as seafood, especially popular in Mediterranean and East Asian cuisines where it is often grilled, braised, or cooked in its own dark ink.
"At the coastal trattoria, we ordered a traditional risotto stained jet-black with cuttlefish ink and topped with tender slices of grilled cuttlefish."
A marine cephalopod mollusk of the order Sepiida, found in coastal and temperate waters worldwide, characterized by eight arms, two long feeding tentacles, W-shaped pupils, rapid skin-color changing ability, and an internal porous shell called a cuttlebone.
"The cuttlefish instantly altered the color and texture of its skin to blend seamlessly into the rocky seabed."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite its name, a cuttlefish is not a true fish, but a cephalopod mollusk closely related to octopuses and squids.
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the 16th century as a compound of "cuttle" (from Old English cudele, possibly related to a Germanic root meaning "bag" or "pouch" in reference to its ink sac) and "fish."
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.