STICKLEBACK


Meaning of STICKLEBACK in English

/stik"euhl bak'/ , n.

any of the small, pugnacious, spiny-backed fishes of the family Gasterosteidae, inhabiting northern fresh waters and sea inlets, the male of which builds and guards the nest. Also called prickleback .

[ 1400-50; late ME stykylbak, equiv. to OE sticol scaly + baec BACK 1 ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .