madtom

noun

plural -s
: any of several small freshwater catfishes (family Ameiuridae) that are widely distributed in the central and eastern U.S. and have poisonous pectoral spines capable of inflicting painful wounds

Word History

Etymology

mad entry 1 + tom (cat)

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near madtom

Cite this Entry

“Madtom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/madtom. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!