two-wing flying fish

9.1

A fish with only its front fins made large so it can glide above the water

noun
/ˈtuːˌwɪŋ ˈflaɪɪŋ fɪʃ/

: pez volador de dos alas

Unlike the four-wing variety, the two-wing flying fish relies solely on its pectoral fins to glide.

Examples

Researchers observed a group of two-wing flying fish escaping predators by skimming the water's surface.
The two-wing flying fish can leap impressive distances above the ocean waves.
Look at that two-wing flying fish!
The two-wing flying fish leaped gracefully out of the water.
Researchers observed a group of two-wing flying fish escaping predators by skimming the water's surface.
The two-wing flying fish can leap impressive distances above the ocean waves.
Unlike the four-wing variety, the two-wing flying fish relies solely on its pectoral fins to glide.

Synonyms

flying fish

vstwo-wing flying fish

1 3.8

A tropical sea fish with large fins that glides above water

is a specific kind with only pectoral fins enlarged for gliding

monoplane flying fish

vstwo-wing flying fish

Specialized

9.6

A fish with only the front fins enlarged that glides above water

is the alternative name used for the same species

Surface Forms

two-wing flying fish singular

two-wing flying fishes plural

Morphology

two-wing + fly + fish

The phrase is compositional: a B1 learner who knows 'two', 'wing', 'fly/flying' and 'fish' can infer it refers to a fish that flies and has two wings (i.e. two enlarged pectoral fins). Although 'two-wing' is not listed as a separate dictionary headword, numeral + noun adjectival compounds that describe a physical trait are cross-linguistically common and therefore predictable.

Etymology

Two-wing flying fish is named for how it looks: it has only two large, wing-like front fins, so the two-wing and flying parts describe how it can 'fly' or glide above the water.