papagallo

noun

pa·​pa·​ga·​llo

ˌpäpəˈgī(ˌ)ō

plural -s

: a large brightly colored food fish (Nematistius pectoralis) related to the amberfishes and found from southern California to Peru

called also roosterfish

Word History

Etymology

alteration (probably influenced by Spanish gallo cock, from Latin gallus) of Spanish papagayo, literally, parrot; from the colored spines of the first dorsal fin that suggest a bird's comb

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