silverfish
silverfish Lexical Profile
silverfish Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small, wingless insect (Lepisma saccharinum) of the order Zygentoma, characterized by its silvery-grey scales, tapered body, and fast, slithering movements, commonly found in dark, damp indoor environments where it feeds on starches and paper.
"When I moved the stack of old newspapers in the basement, a silverfish darted quickly out of sight."
Any of various unrelated fishes characterized by a silvery appearance or bright, metallic scales, such as the tarpon or certain species of silversides.
"The coastal waters were teeming with schools of silverfish shimmering just beneath the surface."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'silver' and 'fish', coined in the 17th century. The insect was named for its silvery, scaly appearance and its side-to-side, slithering movement that resembles a fish swimming.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.