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Definition of mudskipper

mudskipper

/ˈmʌdˌskɪp.ɚ/
mud · skip · per
Plural:mudskippers
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mudskipper Lexical Profile

mudskipper Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An amphibious fish of the goby family (Oxudercidae) native to the mudflats and mangrove swamps of the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic coast of Africa, characterized by its ability to breathe out of water and its modified pectoral fins used for 'walking' or skipping across land.

Example

"During low tide, the mudskipper emerges from the shallow water to hunt for insects and defend its territory on the exposed mud."

Photo by Tisha Mukherjee / CC BY-SA 4.0
Synonyms
View all synonyms for mudskipper

• Nearby Words

mudpie
mudpuppy
mudroom
mudskipper
mudslide
mudslinger
mudslinging

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'mud' and 'skipper', coined in the 18th century in reference to the fish's distinctive habit of emerging from the water and skipping or dragging itself across exposed mudflats.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mudskipper. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mudskipper
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