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Definition of tadpole fish
tadpole fish
Plural:tadpole fish
tadpole fish Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A small, solitary marine fish (Raniceps raninus) belonging to the cod family, native to the rocky coastal waters of the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, known for its dark color, broad head, and tapering body.
Example
"While exploring the shallow rocky reefs off the coast of Norway, the marine biologist photographed a tadpole fish hiding in a dark crevice."
Word Origin & Etymology
Named for its distinctive physical appearance, characterized by a disproportionately large, broad head and a tapering body that resembles an amphibian tadpole.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tadpole fish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tadpole fish