Trunkfish

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of fish characterized by a bony, boxy body covered with tough skin and a reduced or absent tail fin, often found in tropical marine environments
2. This fish features a unique, globular shape with a hard exterior and is commonly seen in warm ocean waters, thriving in coral reefs
3. Known for its distinctive square body and limited swimming capabilities, this marine species typically inhabits shallow coastal areas and exhibits a vibrant coloration

Etymology: The trunkfish gets its name from a plain combination of two English words, "trunk" and "fish," and the name describes its body well. Boxfishes and trunkfishes belong to the family Ostraciidae, and their bodies are encased in a rigid, bony shell of fused plates, with only the fins, mouth and tail poking out. That armour gives the fish its boxy or chest-like outline, which is why "trunk," meaning a sturdy chest or box, was the natural choice. The word is a compound rather than a borrowing: English speakers simply put together two familiar nouns to name a fish whose shape looked like a container. Anyone who has seen one swimming slowly over a reef will recognise why the image stuck.