The name of two species of sea-fish, Cottus bubalis and scorpius.
1674. Ray, Collect. Words, Fishes, 104. Father-lasher, Cornubiensibus pueris dictus: Scorpæna Bellony.
1740. R. Brookes, Art of Angling, II. xx. 125. The Father-lasher … when full-grown does not exceed nine Inches in length.
1863. J. Couch, Fishes Brit. Isl., II. 9. The Father-lasher, or Sting-fish, will live long out of the water, and the longer if its skin be kept moistened.
