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Glite Dictionary
surmullet

surmullet

9.9
A bright sea fish with two small whiskers on its chin
  • noun
  • /sɜrˈmʌlɪt/
translation icon : mullido
  • Divers often spot surmullets foraging along sandy sea floors using their chin barbels.

Examples

  • The Mediterranean surmullet is prized for its delicate flavor and bright coloration.

  • The surmullet swam gracefully through the coral reef.

  • A display tank at the aquarium features several species of surmullet.

  • Many surmullets can be found in tropical waters.

  • A display tank at the aquarium features several species of surmullet.

  • Divers often spot surmullets foraging along sandy sea floors using their chin barbels.

  • The Mediterranean surmullet is prized for its delicate flavor and bright coloration.

Synonyms

red mullet
vssurmullet
6.8

A small red fish with whisker-like feelers that lives in warm seas

is narrower, focusing on species of a specific genus
Mullus surmuletus
vssurmullet
  • Specialized
9.9

A small brightly colored sea fish with a whisker under its chin found in the Mediterranean and nearby Atlantic waters

is tropical, occurring in warm seas rather than Mediterranean or eastern Atlantic areas

Surface Forms

surmullet singular
surmullets plural

Morphology

surmullet = mullet (semi-transparent) = sur + mullet

Formally 'sur' + 'mullet' denotes a specific kind of mullet; the relation to the base fish is clear, but the prefix is a borrowed/formative element without a transparent independent meaning for learners.

Etymology

Surmullet comes from French surmulet, built on mulet, which is the same as the English word 'mullet', and the part sur- meaning 'over' or 'extra'. So a surmullet is a type of mullet that 'stands out' for its bright color and for the small chin 'whiskers' it uses to find food.