Main Entry:

stick·le·back

Pronunciation:

\ˈsti-kəl-ˌbak\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural stick·le·backs also stick·le·back

Etymology:

Middle English stykylbak, from Old English sticel goad + Middle English bak back; akin to Old English stician to stick

Date:

15th century

: any of a family (Gasterosteidae) of small scaleless bony fishes having two or more free spines in front of the dorsal fin and including marine, anadromous, and freshwater forms