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Definition of stonecat

stonecat

/ˈstoʊnˌkæt/
stone · cat
Plural:stonecats
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stonecat Lexical Profile

• noun

1

North American A small species of freshwater catfish (Noturus flavus) belonging to the madtom group, native to the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins of North America, distinguished by its yellowish-brown coloration, its habit of hiding under rocks in fast-moving streams, and its mildly venomous pectoral spines.

Example

"While sampling the riffles of the creek, the aquatic biologist carefully handled a stonecat to avoid being stung by its sharp spines."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for stonecat

• Nearby Words

stomper
stone
stone loach
stonecat
stonechat
stonecrop
stonecutter

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'stone' and 'cat' (short for catfish), named for the species' preferred habitat of sheltering beneath large rocks in fast-moving streams.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Stonecat. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 6, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/stonecat
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