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Glite Dictionary
🐟 A freshwater fish 🐠 A marine fish
quillback

quillback

1 9.9
A North American freshwater fish with a long, spiny back fin that lives in rivers and lakes
  • noun
  • /ˈkwɪlˌbæk/
  • US
: pez quillback
  • Anglers often seek to catch a quillback because of its unique appearance and behavior.

Examples

  • The quillback is known for its unique dorsal fin.

  • The quillback is often mistaken for a carp because of its similar shape.

  • Fishermen sometimes catch a quillback while angling in North American rivers.

  • A large quillback was displayed at the local aquarium for visitors to see.

  • I caught a quillback while fishing in the river.

  • The quillback is a freshwater fish commonly found in rivers and lakes across North America.

  • The quillback has a distinctive, long dorsal fin that resembles a quill, which helps it navigate underwater.

Surface Forms

quillback singular
quillbacks plural

Morphology

quillback = quill + back (transparent) = quill + back

The name transparently describes a fish with a back or dorsal area characterized by quill-like spines.

Etymology

Quillback combines quill and back. A quill is a 'feather' or a 'sharp spine', so the name helps you picture the North American freshwater fish with a long, feather-like fin on its back in rivers and lakes.