moderlieschen

The story

1. German · borrowed fromModerlieschen
2. English todaymoderlieschen

From German Moderlieschen, from or corresponding to Mutterlöschen, Mutterloseken, literally "motherless one(s)", because the eggs can withstand long exposure to air, stick to ducks and other birds, and be carried to ephemeral ponds, where they may hatch without adults present, leading to folk beliefs that the fish were motherless.