sea toad
sea toad Lexical Profile
• noun
Any of several species of sluggish, deep-water marine anglerfishes in the family Chaunacidae, characterized by a rounded, flabby body, a large mouth, and a small fleshy lure on the snout used to attract prey.
"During the deep-sea expedition, the remotely operated vehicle captured footage of a bright red sea toad resting quietly on the ocean floor."
A general or colloquial term sometimes used to describe other bottom-dwelling, wide-mouthed marine fishes, such as toadfish or sculpins, known for their stout and warty appearance.
"Local anglers occasionally catch what they call a sea toad when fishing close to the rocky seabed."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A descriptive compound of 'sea' and 'toad', named for the fish's squat, warty, toad-like appearance and its sluggish, bottom-dwelling habits in the ocean.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.