hairy molly fish

8.2

A small freshwater fish with short stiff hairs on its fins often kept in aquariums

noun

Specialized

: pez molly peludo

The hairy molly fish thrives in well-maintained freshwater environments with plenty of plants.

Examples

Many aquarium enthusiasts add a hairy molly fish to their tanks for its unique look.
She pointed out the bristly fins of the hairy molly fish at the pet store.
The hairy molly fish is a popular choice for aquarists.
Have you seen a hairy molly fish before?
Aquarium owners often choose the hairy molly fish for its striking bristly appearance.
When visiting the pet store, I admired the hairy molly fish with its unique fins.
To create a vibrant tank, many hobbyists include a hairy molly fish along with aquatic plants.

Synonyms

mollie

vshairy molly fish

6 8.2

A small freshwater fish often kept in home aquariums

is a specific variety with a bristly texture rather than the general species

molly

vshairy molly fish

1 7.7

A small freshwater fish often kept in home aquariums

is identified by a bristly look rather than toughness or color

hairy molly

vshairy molly fish

Specialized

9.1

A small freshwater fish that has fine hair-like fins and lives in tanks

is more notable for a rough bristly appearance

Surface Forms

hairy molly fish singular

hairy molly fish plural

Morphology

hairy + molly + fish

The phrase is a straightforward descriptive noun phrase: 'hairy' modifies 'molly fish', so a learner who knows 'hairy', 'molly', and 'fish' can infer it denotes a molly-type fish with a bristly appearance. There is no idiomatic or metaphorical shift and it follows normal English noun-modifier composition, making the meaning immediately derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Hairy molly fish comes from the fish's look: this small aquarium fish has tiny, hair-like strands on its fins, so people called it hairy, and it is a kind of molly. That's why the name means 'a small freshwater fish with a bristly look'.