platy
/ˈplati
/noun (plural platies)
A small live-bearing freshwater fish of Central America, which is popular in aquaria.
- Genus Xiphophorus, family Poeciliidae: several species, in particular X. maculatus, which has been bred in a wide variety of colours.
- He's lived happily for the past four months with a platy and two neon tetras in a five gallon aquarium.
- Prompted by my concern for Linda's ‘tough-love’ hardened goldfish and platies, I was given Nigel as an outlet for my protective zeal.
Origin
Early 20th century: colloquial abbreviation of modern Latin Platypoecilus (former genus name), from Greek platus 'broad' + poikilos 'variegated'.