sculpin

S1C3U1L1P3I1N1
/ˈskʌlpɪn/

noun

A small fish of the family Cottidae, usually lacking scales. Often found on river bottoms and in tidal pools.

OriginLatin scorpaena ← Ancient Greek σκόρπαινα →
UncommonScrabble 11
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Meanings

nounsculpin (plural sculpins)

plural sculpins

  1. A small fish of the family Cottidae, usually lacking scales. Often found on river bottoms and in tidal pools.
  2. obsoleteslangA person who makes mischief.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
shorthorn sculpin

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekσκόρπαινα“kind of fish”
  2. Latinscorpaena
  3. Englishsculpin

From earlier scorpene, from Latin scorpaena, from Ancient Greek σκόρπαινα (skórpaina, “kind of fish”), diminutive of σκορπίος (skorpíos). Compare scorpionfish.

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Danish ulk
  • ulksmall fish of the family Cottidae
Finnish simppu
  • simppusmall fish of the family Cottidae
German Groppe
  • Groppesmall fish of the family Cottidae
Hungarian kölönte
  • kölöntesmall fish of the family Cottidae
Spanish coto, cavilat
  • cotosmall fish of the family Cottidae
  • cavilatsmall fish of the family Cottidae
  • carrasco espinososmall fish of the family Cottidae
Swedish simpa
  • simpasmall fish of the family Cottidae

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

insculp
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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