/ahr"cheuhr fish'/ , n. , pl. ( esp. collectively ) archerfish , ( esp. referring to two or more kinds or species ) archerfishes .
1. a small fish, Toxotes jaculatrix, of brackish and fresh waters in southeastern Asia, that preys upon shoreside spiders and insects by spitting drops of water at them and knocking them into the water.
2. any of several closely related fishes of the family Toxotidae.
[ 1885-90; ARCHER + FISH ]