midshipman fish

Questions

What does midshipman fish mean?

Any species of the genus Porichthys of batrachoid toadfishes, typically nocturnal, distinguished by photophores and four lateral lines, and noted for a hum produced by males during the breeding season.

Where does midshipman fish come from?

From midshipman + fish, after their prey-attracting photophores, which are said to resemble the buttons of a naval uniform.

How to pronounce midshipman fish

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “midshipman fish”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “midshipman fish”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “midshipman fish” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.