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Definition of dartfish

dartfish

/ˈdɑːrt.fɪʃ/
dart · fish
Plural:dartfish
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dartfish Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any of various small, slender, brightly colored marine fishes of the family Ptereleotridae, native to tropical Indo-Pacific coral reefs and noted for rapidly retreating into sandy burrows or rock crevices when alarmed.

Example

"The vivid purple fire dartfish is a popular addition to many marine reef aquariums due to its striking coloration and peaceful temperament."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for dartfish

• Nearby Words

dart
dartboard
darter
dartfish
darwin
darwin tulip
dashboard

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'dart' and 'fish', named for their characteristic behavior of swimming with quick, sudden movements and rapidly darting into burrows or crevices when threatened.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dartfish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dartfish
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