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Definition of fortescue
fortescue
/ˈfɔːr.tɪs.kjuː/
For · tes · cue
Plural:fortescues
fortescue Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Australian A small, venomous fish (Centropogon australis) belonging to the waspfish family, native to the estuaries, rock pools, and coastal waters of eastern Australia, known for delivering a highly painful sting with its dorsal spines.
Example
"While wading in the shallow rock pools near Sydney, he had to watch his step carefully to avoid stepping on a well-camouflaged fortescue."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for fortescueWord Origin & Etymology
Originating in the 19th century in Australia, named after the English proper surname Fortescue, though the specific historical reason for applying it to this fish remains uncertain.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Fortescue. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/fortescue