prickleback
1. [ noun ] (zoology) small elongate fishes of shallow northern seas; a long dorsal fin consists entirely of spines
Related terms: blennioid_fish eelblenny snakeblenny
2. [ noun ] (zoology) small (2-4 inches) pugnacious mostly scaleless spiny-backed fishes of northern fresh and littoral waters having elaborate courtship; subjects of much research
Synonyms: stickleback
Related terms: spiny-finned_fish three-spined_stickleback ten-spined_stickleback Gasterosteidae
Similar spelling:   prickly_pear
  prickly_heat
  prickle-weed
  prickle_cell
  Pricilla
  preclude
  prickly_pine
  prickling
  precooled