blackfish Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun large dark-colored food fish of the Atlantic coast of North America
    tautog; Tautoga onitis.
  2. noun female salmon that has recently spawned
  3. noun small dark-colored whale of the Atlantic coast of the United States; the largest male acts as pilot or leader for the school
    black whale; common blackfish; Globicephala melaena; pilot whale.

WordNet

Black"fish noun
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) A small kind of whale, of the genus Globicephalus, of several species. The most common is G. melas. Also sometimes applied to other whales of larger size.
  2. (Zoöl.) The tautog of New England (Tautoga).
  3. (Zoöl.) The black sea bass (Centropristis atrarius) of the Atlantic coast. It is excellent food fish; -- locally called also black Harry.
  4. (Zoöl.) A fish of southern Europe (Centrolophus pompilus) of the Mackerel family.
  5. (Zoöl.) The female salmon in the spawning season. ✍ The name is locally applied to other fishes.

Webster 1913