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Glite Dictionary
jackknife-fish

jackknife-fish

9.9
A black and white sea fish with a long fin on its back
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : pez cuchillo
  • The distinctive dorsal fin of the jackknife-fish makes it easy to identify in the wild.

Examples

  • The jackknife-fish is popular among aquarium enthusiasts for its striking appearance.

  • Divers spotted a school of jackknife-fish near the coral reef.

  • The jackknife-fish is known for its unique appearance.

  • I saw a jackknife-fish swimming gracefully.

  • Divers spotted a school of jackknife-fish near the coral reef.

  • The jackknife-fish is popular among aquarium enthusiasts for its striking appearance.

  • The distinctive dorsal fin of the jackknife-fish makes it easy to identify in the wild.

Synonyms

Equetus lanceolatus
vsjackknife-fish
  • Specialized
9.9

A black and white fish with a tall fin like a sail that lives in the western Atlantic

is the common everyday name rather than the scientific label

Surface Forms

jackknife-fish singular
jackknife-fishes plural

Morphology

jackknife-fish = jackknife + fish (transparent) = jackknife + fish

A straightforward compound: a fish named for its resemblance to a jackknife (shape), so the relation to the base words is directly inferable.

Etymology

Jackknife-fish comes from the English tool jackknife, a small folding 'knife', because the fish's long, upright dorsal fin looks like an open blade. So the name helps you remember this black-and-white drumfish with a sharp, knife-like fin.