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Definition of squirrelfish

squirrelfish

/ˈskwɝː.əlˌfɪʃ/
squir · rel · fish
Plural:squirrelfishes
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squirrelfish Lexical Profile

squirrelfish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various primarily nocturnal marine fishes of the family Holocentridae, typically characterized by bright red coloration, large eyes, and rough, spiny scales, found inhabiting tropical coral reefs.

Example

"While snorkeling at night over the Caribbean reef, we spotted a bright red squirrelfish peering cautiously out from a rocky crevice."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for squirrelfish

• Nearby Words

squirrel
squirrel corn
squirrel monkey
squirrelfish
sri lanka
sri lankan pit viper
sriracha

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'squirrel' and 'fish', named in the 18th century likely due to their disproportionately large, dark eyes resembling those of a squirrel, and their ability to produce chattering or grunting sounds when alarmed.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Squirrelfish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/squirrelfish
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