■ noun a small freshwater or coastal fish with sharp spines along its back. [ Gasterosteus aculeatus ( three-spined ~ ) and other species.]
Origin
ME: from OE sticel 'thorn, sting' + bæc 'back'.
■ noun a small freshwater or coastal fish with sharp spines along its back. [ Gasterosteus aculeatus ( three-spined ~ ) and other species.]
Origin
ME: from OE sticel 'thorn, sting' + bæc 'back'.
Concise Oxford English vocab. Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2004