'Prickleback' definitions:
Definition of 'prickleback'
From: WordNet
noun
Small elongate fishes of shallow northern seas; a long dorsal fin consists entirely of spines
noun
Small (2-4 inches) pugnacious mostly scaleless spiny-backed fishes of northern fresh and littoral waters having elaborate courtship; subjects of much research [syn: stickleback, prickleback]
Definition of 'Prickleback'
From: GCIDE
- Prickleback \Pric"kle*back`\, Pricklefish \Pric"kle*fish`\, n. (Zool.) The stickleback. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'prickleback'
From: GCIDE
- Stickleback \Stic"kle*back`\, n. [OE. & Prov E. stickle a prickle, spine, sting (AS. sticel) + back. See Stick, v. t., and cf. Banstickle.] (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small fishes of the genus Gasterosteus and allied genera. The back is armed with two or more sharp spines. They inhabit both salt and brackish water, and construct curious nests. Called also sticklebag, sharpling, and prickleback. [1913 Webster]