stickleback

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: stick=le=back

CIDE DICTIONARY

stickleback, n. [OE. & Prov E. stickle a prickle, spine, sting (AS. sticel) + back. See Stick, v. t., and cf. Banstickle.].

 Any one of numerous species of small fishes of the genus Gasterosteus and allied genera. The back is armed with two or more sharp spines. They inhabit both salt and brackish water, and construct curious nests. Called also sticklebag, sharpling, and prickleback.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

stickleback, n. any small fish of the family Gasterosteidae, esp. Gasterosteus aculeatus, with sharp spines along the back.

Etymology

ME f. OE sticel thorn, sting + b{aelig}c BACK