prickleback

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

prickleback
    n 1: small elongate fishes of shallow northern seas; a long
         dorsal fin consists entirely of spines
    2: small (2-4 inches) pugnacious mostly scaleless spiny-backed
       fishes of northern fresh and littoral waters having elaborate
       courtship; subjects of much research [syn: {stickleback},
       {prickleback}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Prickleback \Pric"kle*back`\, Pricklefish \Pric"kle*fish`\, n.
   (Zool.)
   The stickleback.
   [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Stickleback \Stic"kle*back`\, n. [OE. & Prov E. stickle a
   prickle, spine, sting (AS. sticel) + back. See {Stick}, v.
   t., and cf. {Banstickle}.] (Zool.)
   Any one of numerous species of small fishes of the genus
   {Gasterosteus} and allied genera. The back is armed with two
   or more sharp spines. They inhabit both salt and brackish
   water, and construct curious nests. Called also {sticklebag},
   {sharpling}, and {prickleback}.
   [1913 Webster]