parrotfish

views updated May 14 2018

par·rot·fish / ˈperətˌfish; ˈpar-/ • n. (pl. same or -fishes) 1. any of a number of brightly colored marine fish with a parrotlike beak, which they use to scrape food from coral and other hard surfaces, in particular: ∎  a widespread fish (Scarus and other genera, family Scaridae) of warm seas that may secrete a mucous cocoon to deter predators. ∎  an edible fish of the southern Indian ocean (Oplegnathus conwayi, family Oplegnathidae). 2. Austral. a brightly colored marine fish, esp. one of the wrasse family.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

parrotfish

views updated May 29 2018

parrotfish See SCARIDAE.

A Dictionary of Zoology MICHAEL ALLABY

scarus

views updated Jun 11 2018

scarus parrot-fish. XVII. — L. — Gr. skáros.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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