Anagrams of: STICKLEBACKS

• small (2-4 inches) pugnacious mostly scaleless spiny-backed fishes of northern fresh and littoral waters having elaborate courtship; subjects of much research

• To hold back a student's application (to a college etc.) based on whether a preferred candidate declines their offer.

• To place (a book) on a backlist.

• lacking a back

• being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

• of or belonging to a racial group especially of sub-Saharan African origin

• the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)

• British chemist who identified carbon dioxide and who formulated the concepts of specific heat and latent heat (1728-1799)

• popular child actress of the 1930's (born in 1928)

• total absence of light

• (board games) the darker pieces

• a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today

• black clothing (worn as a sign of mourning)

• marked by anger or resentment or hostility

• offering little or no hope

• stemming from evil characteristics or forces; wicked or dishonorable

• (of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin

• (of the face) made black especially as with suffused blood

• extremely dark

• harshly ironic or sinister

• (of intelligence operations) deliberately misleading

• distributed or sold illicitly

• (used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame

• (of coffee) without cream or sugar

• soiled with dirt or soot

• make or become black

• an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating