midshipman fish

noun

Any species of the genus Porichthys of batrachoid toadfishes, typically nocturnal, distinguished by photophores and four lateral lines, and noted for a hum produced by males during the breeding season.

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midshipman
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Meanings

nounmidshipman fish (plural midshipman fish or midshipman fishes)

plural midshipman fishes

  1. Any species of the genus Porichthys of batrachoid toadfishes, typically nocturnal, distinguished by photophores and four lateral lines, and noted for a hum produced by males during the breeding season.

    Synonyms: midshipman

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAny species of the genus Porichthys of batrachoid toadfishes, typically nocturnal, distinguished by photophores and four lateral lines, and noted for a hum produced by males during the breeding season.

Similar
midshipman

Origin

From midshipman + fish, after their prey-attracting photophores, which are said to resemble the buttons of a naval uniform.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish kadettikala
  • kadettikalatoadfish of genus Porichthys
Russian ры́ба-ми́чман
  • ры́ба-ми́чман (rýba-míčman)toadfish of genus Porichthys
Cite this entry
APA

midshipman fish. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/midshipman%20fish

MLA

“midshipman fish.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/midshipman%20fish. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “midshipman fish,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/midshipman%20fish.

Source: midshipman fish on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.