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killifish in British English
(ˈkɪlɪˌfɪʃ)
nounWord forms: plural -fish or -fishes
any of various chiefly American minnow-like cyprinodont fishes of the genus Fundulus and related genera, of fresh and brackish waters: used as aquarium fishes, to control mosquitoes, and as anglers' bait
Word origin
C19: see kill2, fishkillifish in American English
(ˈkɪlɪˌfɪʃ)
US
nounWord forms: plural ˈkilliˌfish or ˈkilliˌfishes
any of a family (Cyprinodontidae, order Atheriniformes) of small, freshwater bony fishes used in mosquito control and as bait
: also ˈkillie (ˈkɪli) Word forms: plural ˈkillies Word origin
killie, killifish (< kill2 + -ie) + fishImage ofkillifish
© Mirko Rosenau, shutterstock