Search Dictionary
Definition of stonecat
stonecat
/ˈstoʊnˌkæt/
stone · cat
Plural:stonecats
stonecat Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• 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
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 Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/stonecat