stickleback

From Old English and dialect stickle a prickle, spine, sting (Old English sticel) + back. See stick (transitive verb) and compare banstickle.

stickleback (plural sticklebacks)

1. Any one of numerous species of small fishes of the family Gasterosteidae. The back is armed with two or more sharp spines. They inhabit both salt and brackish water, and construct curious nests.
   • 1599, Thomas Nashe, Nashes Lenten Stuffe:

     in my exile and irkeſome diſcontented abandonment, the ſillieſt millers thombe, or contemptible ſtickle-banck of my enemies, is as buſie nibbling about my fame, as if I were a deade man throwne amongeſt them to feede vpon.

• (any species of Gasterosteidae): sticklebag, sharpling