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Definition of mud loach
mud loach
Plural:mud loaches
mud loach Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A small, elongated, bottom-dwelling freshwater fish (particularly of the genus Misgurnus, such as M. anguillicaudatus) native to East Asia, known for its ability to survive in oxygen-poor, muddy environments and commonly kept in aquariums or farmed for food.
Example
"During severe dry spells, the mud loach can survive by burying itself deep in the moist sediment of dried riverbeds."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for mud loach• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A descriptive compound of 'mud' (from Middle English 'mudde') and 'loach' (from Old French 'loche'), referring to the fish's benthic, mud-dwelling natural habitat.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mud loach. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mud loach