Definition of STICKLEBACK

stickleback

Plural: sticklebacks

Noun

  • small (2-4 inches) pugnacious mostly scaleless spiny-backed fishes of northern fresh and littoral waters having elaborate courtship; subjects of much research
  • Any one of numerous species of small fish of the family Gasterosteidae. The back is armed with two or more sharp spines. They inhabit both salt and brackish water, and construct nests from weeds.

Origin / Etymology

From dialectal stickle (“a prickle, spine, sting”), from Old English sticel + bæc. See stick (transitive verb) and compare banstickle.

Scrabble Score: 25

stickleback: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
stickleback: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
stickleback: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 29

stickleback: valid Words With Friends Word