bitterling

B3I1T1T1E1R1L1I1N1G2

noun

Any of various species of small cyprinid fish in the genus Rhodeus.

Similar
European bitterling
OriginGerman Bitterling →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounbitterling (plural bitterlings)

plural bitterlings

  1. Any of various species of small cyprinid fish in the genus Rhodeus.
  2. Specifically Rhodeus amarus, formerly called Rhodeus sericeus.

    Synonyms: European bitterling

Synonyms & antonyms

nounSpecifically Rhodeus amarus, formerly called Rhodeus sericeus.

Similar
European bitterling
Also see
european bitterling

Origin

  1. GermanBitterling
  2. Englishbitterling

From German Bitterling, calque from Latin amārus (“bitter”), equivalent to bitter + -ling. Compare grayling, fingerling.

More words from German

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian горчивка
  • горчивка (gorčivka)fish of the genus Rhodeus
Finnish katkerokala
  • katkerokalafish of the genus Rhodeus
French bouvière
  • bouvièrefish of the genus Rhodeus
German Bitterling
  • Bitterlingfish of the genus Rhodeus
Hungarian ökle
  • öklefish of the genus Rhodeus
Italian rodeo
  • rodeofish of the genus Rhodeus
Japanese 薔薇鱮
  • 薔薇鱮 (baratanago)fish of the genus Rhodeus
Russian горча́к
  • горча́к (gorčák)fish of the genus Rhodeus
Turkish acı balık, gördek
  • acı balıkfish of the genus Rhodeus
  • gördekfish of the genus Rhodeus
Cite this entry
APA

bitterling. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bitterling

MLA

“bitterling.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bitterling. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bitterling,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bitterling.

Source: bitterling on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.