Sunday Word: Ichthyic

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

ichthyic [ik-thee-ik]

adjective:
(archaic) of or relating to fishes or having the form of a fish; piscine

Examples:

The Western Branch Reservoir is among his favorite fishing haunts. Catfish, especially channel catfish, have become the objects of his ichthyic affection. (Bob Ruegsegger, Lake Prince resident a local catfish whisperer, The Virginian-Pilot, October 2020)

Those who lack gills typically meet members of the ichthyic kingdom à la meunière or packed in oil. (The secret life of fish, The Economist, May 2018)

A weekend adventure was cut short by dramatic ichthyic violence this past Sunday, as 46-year-old Karri Larson found herself on the wrong side of a chance encounter with a Florida Keys needlefish. (Nate Jones, One More Thing To Be Frightened Of: Horrific Back-Stabbing Needlefish, Time, October 2020)

Maybe you would not even feel that, as you struggled in clothes that felt like cooling tar, and as you slowed, calmed, even, and opened your eyes and looked for a pulse of silver, an imbrication of scales, and as you closed your eyes again and felt their lids turn to slippery, ichthyic skin, the blood behind them suddenly cold, and as you found yourself not caring, wanting, finally, to rest, finally wanting nothing more than the sudden, new, simple hum threading between your eyes (Paul Harding, Tinkers)

A curious episcopal ring worn by St Arnulf, bishop of Metz, in the sixth century, exhibits the well-known ichthyic symbol. (William Henry Withrow, The Catacombs of Rome)

Origin:

Mid 19th century from Greek ikhthuïkos 'fishy', from ikhthus 'fish'. (Lexico)