First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
stickleback
noun stick·le·back \ˈsti-kəl-ˌbak\
plural stick·le·backs also stick·le·back
Definition of STICKLEBACK
: any of a family (Gasterosteidae) of small scaleless bony fishes having two or more free spines in front of the dorsal fin and including marine, anadromous, and freshwater forms
See stickleback defined for kids ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of STICKLEBACK
Middle English stykylbak, from Old English sticel goad + Middle English bak back; akin to Old English stician to stick
Rhymes with STICKLEBACK
almanac, amberjack, anorak, antiblack, applejack, Arawak, Aurillac, back-to-back, bivouac, black-on-black, brainiac, bric-a-brac, Cadillac, camelback, canvasback, cardiac, carryback, celiac, cornerback, Cousin Jack, crackerjack, cul-de-sac, diamondback, fiddleback, Gay-Lussac, gunnysack, hackmatack, haversack, high-low-jack, huckaback, hydrocrack, iliac, ipecac, Kodiak, ladder-back, leatherback, lumberjack, maniac, medevac, Merrimack, mommy track, multipack, nunatak, Nunivak, off-the-rack, paperback, Pasternak, piggyback, quarterback, razorback, retropack, running back, sandarac, Sarawak, silverback, single-track, snapper-back, steeplejack, Syriac, tamarack, theriac, tokamak, turtleback, umiak, Unimak, zodiac
STICKLEBACK Defined for Kids
stickleback
noun stick·le·back \ˈsti-kəl-ˌbak\
Definition of STICKLEBACK for Kids
: a small scaleless fish with sharp spines on its back
Learn More About STICKLEBACK
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: stick–legPrevious Word in the Dictionary: stickleafAll Words Near: stickleback
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up stickleback? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).