blenny

Meaning

Noun

• A true blenny, any of various marine fishes from the suborder Blennioidei or order Blenniiformes that are generally small and elongated which dwell on the sea floor, including scaled and scaleless forms and dramatically divergent appearance, in several families.
• A number of fish of similar appearance not closely related.

Origin

• From Latin blennius, blendius, from Ancient Greek βλεννός ("mucus, slime") (whence Modern Greek βλέννα), because of its slimy coating. From Proto-Indo-European *mel-.