lionfishn.
/ˈlʌɪənfɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈlaɪənˌfɪʃ/ΚΠ
1703 tr. A. de Ovalle Hist. Relation Chile i. xvii. 36/2 The Lyon Fish is also admirable;..they are as big as a Colt, and have a Lyons Head, with a perfect Main; which the Females of them have not.
2. Any of several venomous spiny fishes of the family Scorpaenidae, esp. of the genus Pterois, which are native to the Indo-Pacific region and have bright contrasting stripes and spiky fin rays. Also with distinguishing word.Several species of Pterois are popular as aquarium fishes and have become invasive on the east coast of the United States and throughout the Caribbean.
ΚΠ
1848 R. H. Schomburgk Hist. Barbados 667 Scorpæna bufo... The Sculpin or Lion Fish... The head is shielded and prickled, and covered with tubercles, which gives it a repulsive aspect.
1903 Frank Leslie's Pop. Monthly Mar. 452 (caption) The lion fish Scorpoena volitans, is as dangerous as it is hideous, for the spines contain a deadly poison. This is the only species of lion fish which came to the net during the expedition.
1993 M. J. Scharf & A. S. Baker in T. B. Fitzpatrick et al. Dermatol. in Gen. Med. (ed. 4) II. ccxxvi. 2805/2 Lionfish, genus Pterois, are found in tropical waters and are prized by fish fanciers because of their colorful and ornate fins.
2008 K. Schneider & P. Batson Into Deep 76 (caption) A hunting red lionfish uses long wing-like fins and lightning-fast reflexes to herd its prey into a corner on the reef.
2012 New Yorker 10 Dec. 32/3 Lionfish..is native to the Pacific but in the past twenty years has spread up the Atlantic Coast from Venezuela to Rhode Island.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2021; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1703