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Definition of harlequin rasbora
harlequin rasbora
Plural:harlequin rasboras
harlequin rasbora Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
10
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A small, schooling freshwater fish (Trigonostigma heteromorpha) native to the peat swamps and streams of Southeast Asia, highly popular in the aquarium trade and distinguished by a metallic reddish-copper body with a prominent black triangular patch on the rear half.
Example
"A school of harlequin rasboras darted through the densely planted aquarium, their metallic orange bodies and dark triangular markings catching the light."
Word Origin & Etymology
The name 'harlequin' refers to the fish's distinct and colorful markings, reminiscent of the traditional comic character's motley costume. 'Rasbora' comes from its former genus classification, derived from a regional South Asian name for small schooling fish.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Harlequin rasbora. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/harlequin rasbora