fish : Idioms & Phrases

• noun from 405 million to 345 million years ago; preponderance of fishes and appearance of amphibians and ammonites
  Devonian period; Devonian.
  

WordNet

• . See under Age, n., 8.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a marine fish of northwestern America (Podothecus acipenserinus).

Webster 1913

Am"ber fish

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A fish of the southern Atlantic coast (Seriola Carolinensis.)

Webster 1913

• noun live associated with sea anemones
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) A species of shark (Squatina angelus) from six to eight feet long, found on the coasts of Europe and North America. It takes its name from its pectoral fins, which are very large and extend horizontally like wings when spread. (b) One of several species of compressed, bright colored fishes warm seas, belonging to the family, Chætodontidæ.

Webster 1913

• noun fishes having large mouths with a wormlike filament attached for luring prey
  lotte; Lophius Americanus; allmouth; anglerfish; angler; monkfish; goosefish.
  

WordNet

Arch"er fish`

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A small fish (Toxotes jaculator), of the East Indies; -- so called from its ejecting drops of water from its mouth at its prey. The name is also applied to Chætodon rostratus.

Webster 1913

• . (Zoöl) See Hammerhead.

Webster 1913

Bal*loon" fish`

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A fish of the genus Diodon or the genus Tetraodon, having the power of distending its body by taking air or water into its dilatable esophagus. See Globefish, and Bur fish.

Webster 1913

Band" fish`

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A small red fish of the genus Cepola; the ribbon fish.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a large fish of the genus Histiophorus, of the Swordfish family, having a broad bannerlike dorsal fin; the sailfish. One species (H. Americanus) inhabits the North Atlantic.

Webster 1913

Bar"ber fish

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) See Surgeon fish.

Webster 1913

• noun any starfish-like animal of the genera Euryale or Astrophyton or Gorgonocephalus having slender complexly branched interlacing arms radiating from a central disc
  basket star.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), an ophiuran of the genus Astrophyton, having the arms much branched. See Astrophyton.

Webster 1913

• noun small bottom-dwelling fish of warm seas having a compressed body and a long snout with a toothless mouth
  snipefish.
  

WordNet

Bel"lows fish`

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A European fish (Centriscus scolopax), distinguished by a long tubular snout, like the pipe of a bellows; -- called also trumpet fish, and snipe fish.

Webster 1913

• noun an important influential person
  big cheese; big gun; big shot; big wheel; head honcho; big deal; big enchilada.
  
  • he thinks he's a big shot
  • she's a big deal in local politics
  • the Qaeda commander is a very big fish

WordNet

• noun having both pectoral and pelvic fins enlarged
  biplane flying fish.
  

WordNet

• noun elongated mostly scaleless marine fishes with large pectoral fins and reduced pelvic fins
  blennioid.
  

WordNet

• noun any fish of the class Osteichthyes
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the menhaden.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a kind of deep-sea eel (Saccopharynx ampullaceus), remarkable for its baglike gullet, which enables it to swallow fishes two or three times its won size.

Webster 1913

• noun fish that live on the sea bottom (particularly the commercially important gadoid fish like cod and haddock, or flatfish like flounder)
  groundfish.
  

WordNet

• noun any of several large suckers of the Mississippi valley
  buffalofish.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), one of several large fresh-water fishes of the family Catostomidæ, of the Mississippi valley. The red-mouthed or brown (Ictiobus bubalus), the big-mouthed or black (Bubalichthys urus), and the small-mouthed (B. altus), are among the more important species used as food.

Webster 1913

Bur" fish`

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A spinose, plectognath fish of the Allantic coast of the United States (esp. Chilo mycterus geometricus) having the power of distending its body with water or air, so as to resemble a chestnut bur; -- called also ball fish, balloon fish, and swellfish.

Webster 1913

• noun small usually brilliantly colored tropical marine fishes having narrow deep bodies with large broad fins; found worldwide
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the ocellated blenny (Blennius ocellaris) of Europe. See Blenny. The term is also applied to the flying gurnard.

Webster 1913

• noun a percoid fish of the family Carangidae
  carangid.
  

WordNet

• noun fishes in which the skeleton may be calcified but not ossified
  chondrichthian.
  

WordNet

• noun any freshwater fish of the family Characinidae
  characin; characid.
  

WordNet

• noun freshwater fishes of tropical America and Africa and Asia similar to American sunfishes; some are food fishes; many small ones are popular in aquariums
  cichlid.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a fish (Decapterus punctatus), allied to the mackerel, found on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

Webster 1913

• noun mostly small blennioid fishes of coral reefs and seagrass beds
  clinid.
  

WordNet

• noun an anemone fish of the genus Amphiprion
  Amphiprion percula.
  

WordNet

• noun any of numerous soft-finned schooling food fishes of shallow waters of northern seas
  clupeid.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a marine fish (Blepharis crinitus) of the Atlantic. The name alludes to its threadlike fin rays.

Webster 1913

• . (Zoöl.) See Cowfish.

Webster 1913

• noun an aloof unemotional person
  

WordNet

• noun greenling with whitish body marked with black bands
  painted greenling; Oxylebius pictus; convictfish.
  

WordNet

• . See in the Vocabulary.

Webster 1913

• noun deep-sea fish of tropical Atlantic
  Paranthias furcifer.
  

WordNet

• noun sea catfish of the Caribbean area
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the European red gurnard (Trigla cuculus). The name probably alludes to the sound that it utters.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a peculiar, long, thin, marine fish (Trichirus lepturus) of the southern United States and West Indies; called also saber fish, silver eel, and, improperly, swordfish.

Webster 1913

• noun soft-finned mainly freshwater fishes typically having toothless jaws and cycloid scales
  cyprinid.
  

WordNet

• noun a soft-finned fish of the order Cypriniformes
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a bivalve shell, or its inhabitant, of the genus Pholas, and allied genera. See Pholas.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any fish of the genus Acanthurus; the surgeon fish; so called from a sharp lancetlike spine on each side of the tail. Also called barber fish. See Surgeon fish.

Webster 1913

• noun surgeon fish of the West Indies
  doctorfish; Acanthurus chirurgus.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a fish of the United States coast (Stromateus triacanthus), having a flat, roundish form and a bright silvery luster; called also butterfish, and Lafayette. See Butterfish.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the dragonet.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any fish which has an electrical organ by means of which it can give an electrical shock. The best known kinds are the torpedo, the gymnotus, or electrical eel, and the electric cat. See Torpedo, and Gymnotus.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a chimæroid fish (Callorhynchus antarcticus), with a proboscis-like projection of the snout.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a fish of the Gulf of Mexico (Gobionellus oceanicus), remarkable for the brilliant green and blue color of the base of the tongue; whence the name; called also esmeralda.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the angel fish.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a remarkably pugnacious East Indian fish (Betta pugnax), reared by the Siamese for spectacular fish fights.

Webster 1913

• a weir set in a stream, for catching fish.

Webster 1913

• noun fried fish and french-fried potatoes
  

WordNet

• noun well-seasoned balls of ground fish and eggs and crushed crumbs simmered in fish stock
  fish ball.
  
• noun a fried ball or patty of flaked fish and mashed potatoes
  fish ball.
  

WordNet

• fish (usually salted codfish) shared fine, mixed with mashed potato, and made into the form of a small, round cake. U.S.

Webster 1913

• . Same as Fish plate (below).

Webster 1913

• (Mech.), a beam one of whose sides (commonly the under one) swells out like the belly of a fish. Francis.

Webster 1913

• noun a state of affairs in which you have no privacy
  goldfish bowl; fishbowl.
  
  • the president lives in a goldfish bowl
• noun a transparent bowl in which small fish are kept
  fishbowl; goldfish bowl.
  

WordNet

• noun a fried ball or patty of flaked fish and mashed potatoes
  fish ball.
  

WordNet

• noun chowder containing fish
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a species of crow (Corvus ossifragus), found on the Atlantic coast of the United States. It feeds largely on fish.

Webster 1913

• the artifical breeding and rearing of fish; pisciculture.

Webster 1913

• . See Davit.

Webster 1913

• a day on which fish is eaten; a fast day.

Webster 1913

• noun brightly colored scaleless Arctic eelpout
  Gymnelis viridis.
  

WordNet

• noun large crested fish-eating diving duck having a slender hooked bill with serrated edges
  merganser; sawbill; sheldrake.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any species of merganser.

Webster 1913

• noun large harmless hawk found worldwide that feeds on fish and builds a bulky nest often occupied for years
  fish eagle; osprey; sea eagle; Pandion haliaetus.
  

WordNet

• the tackle depending from the fish davit, used in hauling up the anchor to the gunwale of a ship.

Webster 1913

• noun any of various families of fish
  

WordNet

• noun a workplace (usually a pond) where fish are raised for food
  

WordNet

• noun a longitudinal slice or boned side of a fish
  fish filet; fillet; filet.
  

WordNet

• noun a longitudinal slice or boned side of a fish
  fish filet; fillet; filet.
  

WordNet

• noun a long fillet of fish breaded and fried
  fish finger.
  

WordNet

• noun similar to but smaller than the dobsonfly; larvae are used as fishing bait
  fish fly.
  

WordNet

• noun a cookout where fried fish is the main course
  

WordNet

• noun small tree of West Indies and Florida having large odd-pinnate leaves and panicles of red-striped purple to white flowers followed by decorative curly winged seedpods; yields fish poisons
  Piscidia piscipula; Piscidia erythrina; Jamaica dogwood.
  

WordNet

• a dam or weir in a river for keeping fish or taking them easily.

Webster 1913

• noun any of various genus of fish
  

WordNet

• noun an upright geranium having scalloped leaves with a broad color zone inside the margin and white or pink or red flowers
  bedding geranium; zonal pelargonium; Pelargonium hortorum.
  

WordNet

• noun gelatinous substance obtained by boiling skins fins and bones of fish
  

WordNet

• . See Isinglass.
• a strong kind of glue obtained from fish skins and bladders; isinglass.

Webster 1913

• noun large harmless hawk found worldwide that feeds on fish and builds a bulky nest often occupied for years
  fish eagle; osprey; sea eagle; Pandion haliaetus.
  

WordNet

• noun a punch made of rum and brandy and water or tea sweetened with sugar syrup
  

WordNet

• noun a butt joint formed by bolting fish plates to the sides of two rails or beams
  

WordNet

• a joint formed by a plate or pair of plates fastened upon two meeting beams, plates, etc., at their junction; used largely in connecting the rails of railroads.

Webster 1913

• a long kettle for boiling fish whole.

Webster 1913

• noun a small table knife with a spatula blade used for eating fish
  

WordNet

• noun a series of ascending pools providing a passage for salmon to swim upstream past a dam
  

WordNet

• a dam with a series of steps which fish can leap in order to ascend falls in a river.

Webster 1913

• a line made of twisted hair, silk, etc., used in angling.

Webster 1913

• noun flaked fish baked in a loaf with bread crumbs and various seasonings
  

WordNet

• noun a kind of copepod
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any crustacean parasitic on fishes, esp. the parasitic Copepoda, belonging to Caligus, Argulus, and other related genera. See Branchiura.

Webster 1913

• noun (angling) any bright artificial bait consisting of plastic or metal mounted with hooks and trimmed with feathers
  fisherman's lure.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the stomach of a fish; also, the air bladder, or sound.

Webster 1913

• noun ground dried fish used as fertilizer and as feed for domestic livestock
  

WordNet

• fish desiccated and ground fine, for use in soups, etc.

Webster 1913

• noun mousse made with fish
  

WordNet

• noun a fatty oil obtained from the livers of various fish
  fish oil.
  

WordNet

• oil obtained from the bodies of fish and marine animals, as whales, seals, sharks, from cods' livers, etc.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a fish-eating owl of the Old World genera Scotopelia and Ketupa, esp. a large East Indian species (K. Ceylonensis).

Webster 1913

• one of the plates of a fish joint.

Webster 1913

• a wicker basket, sunk, with a float attached, for catching crabs, lobsters, etc.

Webster 1913

• a net attached to stakes, for entrapping and catching fish; a weir. Local, U.S. Bartlett.

Webster 1913

• noun scale of the kind that covers the bodies of fish
  

WordNet

• noun a food turner with a broad blade used for turning or serving fish or other food that is cooked in a frying pan
  

WordNet

• a broad knife for dividing fish at table; a fish trowel.

Webster 1913

• an inclined box set in a stream at a small fall, or ripple, to catch fish descending the current. Knight.

Webster 1913

• the air bladder of certain fishes, esp. those that are dried and used as food, or in the arts, as for the preparation of isinglass.

Webster 1913

• noun a species of fish
  

WordNet

• noun cross-section slice of a large fish
  

WordNet

• noun a stew made with fish
  

WordNet

• noun a long fillet of fish breaded and fried
  fish finger.
  

WordNet

• a story which taxes credulity; an extravagant or incredible narration. Colloq. U.S. Bartlett.

Webster 1913

• . (a) A metal colander, with handles, for taking fish from a boiler. (b) A perforated earthenware slab at the bottom of a dish, to drain the water from a boiled fish.

Webster 1913

• noun a tank or pool or bowl filled with water for keeping live fish and underwater animals
  marine museum; aquarium.
  

WordNet

• a fish slice.

Webster 1913

Fish"-bel`lied adjective

Definitions

1. Bellying or swelling out on the under side; as, a fish-bellied rail. Knight.

Webster 1913

Fish"-block` noun

Definitions

1. See Fish-tackle.

Webster 1913

• noun similar to but smaller than the dobsonfly; larvae are used as fishing bait
  fish fly.
  

WordNet

• noun a fatty oil obtained from the livers of various fish
  fish oil.
  

WordNet

Fish"-tac`kle noun

Definitions

1. A tackle or purchase used to raise the flukes of the anchor up to the gunwale. The block used is called the fish-block.

Webster 1913

Fish"-tail` adjective

Definitions

1. Like the of a fish; acting, or producing something, like the tail of a fish.

Webster 1913

• noun the worship of fish
  ichthyolatry.
  

WordNet

• noun a vessel for fishing; often has a well to keep the catch alive
  fishing smack; fishing boat.
  

WordNet

• noun of southeast Europe and central Asia
  Haliaeetus leucorhyphus.
  

WordNet

• noun an investigation undertaken in the hope (but not the stated purpose) of discovering information
  

WordNet

• noun gear used in fishing
  fishing gear; tackle; fishing rig; rig.
  

WordNet

• noun a license authorizing the bearer to fish during a specified period of time
  fishing license; fishing licence.
  

WordNet

• noun a license authorizing the bearer to fish during a specified period of time
  fishing license; fishing licence.
  

WordNet

• noun a length of cord to which the leader and float and sinker and hook are attached
  

WordNet

• noun a net that will enclose fish when it is pulled in
  fishnet.
  

WordNet

• noun a license authorizing the bearer to fish during a specified period of time
  fishing license; fishing licence.
  

WordNet

• noun a rod of wood or steel or fiberglass that is used in fishing to extend the fishing line
  fishing pole.
  

WordNet

• noun gear used in fishing
  fishing gear; tackle; fishing rig; rig.
  

WordNet

• noun a rod of wood or steel or fiberglass that is used in fishing to extend the fishing line
  fishing pole.
  

WordNet

• noun the season during which it is legal to catch fish
  

WordNet

• noun a vessel for fishing; often has a well to keep the catch alive
  fishing smack; fishing boat.
  

WordNet

• noun gear used in fishing
  fishing gear; tackle; fishing rig; rig.
  

WordNet

• noun a vessel for fishing; often has a well to keep the catch alive
  fishing smack; fishing boat.
  

WordNet

• noun terrestrial worm that burrows into and helps aerate soil; often surfaces when the ground is cool or wet; used as bait by anglers
  earthworm; angleworm; dew worm; fishworm; wiggler; nightwalker; red worm; nightcrawler; crawler.
  

WordNet

• noun a cardinalfish found in tropical Atlantic coastal waters
  flamefish; Apogon maculatus.
  

WordNet

• noun fish of deep dark waters having a light organ below each eye
  Photoblepharon palpebratus.
  
• noun fish having a luminous organ beneath eye; of warm waters of the western Pacific and Puerto Rico
  anomalops.
  

WordNet

• the act or art of angling with a bait of natural or artificial flies. Walton.

Webster 1913

• verb fish with flies as lures
  fly-fish; flyfish.
  

WordNet

Fly"-fish intransitive verb

Definitions

1. To angle, using flies for bait. Walton.

Webster 1913

• noun angling with an artificial fly as a lure
  
• verb fish with flies as lures
  fly-fish; flyfish.
  

WordNet

• noun tropical marine fishes having enlarged winglike fins used for brief gliding flight
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) See Flying fish, in the Vocabulary.

Webster 1913

• noun any fish used for food by human beings
  

WordNet

• noun having both pectoral and pelvic fins enlarged
  biplane flying fish.
  

WordNet

• noun soldiers who are regarded as expendable in the face of artillery fire
  fodder; cannon fodder.
  

WordNet

• noun flesh of fish from fresh water used as food
  

WordNet

• noun long-bodied marine fishes having a long whiplike scaleless body and sharp teeth; closely related to snake mackerel
  hairtail; cutlassfish.
  

WordNet

• noun a soft-finned fish of the family Gadidae
  gadoid.
  

WordNet

• noun any fish providing sport for the angler
  game fish.
  

WordNet

• noun primitive fishes having thick bony scales with a shiny covering
  ganoid.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a fish of the genus Lepidopus, having a long, flat body, like the blade of a sword; the scabbard fish.

Webster 1913

• noun well-seasoned balls of ground fish and eggs and crushed crumbs simmered in fish stock
  fish ball.
  

WordNet

• noun a card game for two players who try to assemble books of cards by asking the opponent for particular cards
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any fish which constantly lives on the botton of the sea, as the sole, turbot, halibut.

Webster 1913

Half"-fish` noun

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A salmon in its fifth year of growth. Prov. Eng.

Webster 1913

• . See Hammerhead.

Webster 1913

• noun a soft-finned fish of the genus Alepisaurus
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a marine fish of the Southern United States (Stromateus alepidotus); called whiting in Virginia. Also applied to the dollar fish.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any spinose plectognath fish, esp. of the genus Diodon; the porcupine fish.

Webster 1913

• noun black-and-white drumfish with an erect elongated dorsal fin
  Equetus lanceolatus.
  

WordNet

• noun eel-shaped vertebrate without jaws or paired appendages including the cyclostomes and some extinct forms
  jawless vertebrate; agnathan.
  

WordNet

• noun informal terms for a difficult situation
  mess; fix; muddle; jam; hole; pickle.
  
  • he got into a terrible fix
  • he made a muddle of his marriage

WordNet

Lance" fish`

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A slender marine fish of the genus Ammodytes, especially Ammodytes tobianus of the English coast; -- called also sand lance.

Webster 1913

• noun large elongate scaleless oceanic fishes with sharp teeth and a long dorsal fin that resembles a sail
  wolffish; lancetfish.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) A large, voracious, deep-sea fish (Alepidosaurus ferox), having long, sharp, lancetlike teeth . (b) The doctor, or surgeon fish.

Webster 1913

• a fish on land; a person quite out of place. Shak.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a marine scopeloid fish of the genus Synodus, or Saurus, esp. S. foetens of the Southern United States and West Indies; called also sand pike.

Webster 1913

• noun any fish of the order Crossopterygii; most known only in fossil form
  crossopterygian; lobefin.
  

WordNet

• noun similar to moonfish but with eyes high on the truncated forehead
  Selene vomer; lookdown.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a fish of the Ganges (Polynemus risua), highly esteemed for food. It has several long, slender filaments below the pectoral fins. It appears about the same time with the mango fruit, in April and May, whence the name.

Webster 1913

Mar"gate fish"

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A sparoid fish (Diabasis aurolineatus) of the Gulf of Mexico, esteemed as a food fish; -- called also red-mouth grunt.

Webster 1913

• noun black-barred fish of bays and coastal marshes of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast of the United States
  Fundulus majalis; striped killifish; mayfish.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.) the angel fish (Squatina).

Webster 1913

• noun having only pectoral fins enlarged
  monoplane flying fish.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any fish which utters sounds under water, as the drumfish, grunt, gizzard shad, etc.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the American eelpout. See Eelpout.

Webster 1913

• (Fig.), neither one thing nor the other.

Webster 1913

• verb fish with nets
  

WordNet

• noun someone regarded as eccentric or crazy and standing out from a group
  kook; queer duck; odd man out; queer bird; odd fellow.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the grenadier.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the drumfish.

Webster 1913

• noun a variety of toadfish
  oysterfish; oyster fish.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) The tautog. (b) The toadfish.

Webster 1913

• noun a variety of toadfish
  oysterfish; oyster fish.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a beautiful fresh-water Asiatic fish (Macropodus viridiauratus) having very large fins. It is often kept alive as an ornamental fish.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any fish of the genus Scarus. One species (S. Cretensis), found in the Mediterranean, is esteemed by epicures, and was highly prized by the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the European blue-striped wrasse (Labrus variegatus); so called on account of its brilliant colors. Called also cook wrasse and cook.

Webster 1913

• noun found living within the alimentary canals of e.g. sea cucumbers or between the shells of pearl oysters in or near shallow seagrass beds
  pearlfish.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), deep-sea fish (Eurypharynx pelecanoides) of the order Lyomeri, remarkable for the enormous development of the jaws, which support a large gular pouch.

Webster 1913

• noun any of numerous spiny-finned fishes of the order Perciformes
  percoidean; percoid.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a haddock; so called because the black spots, one on each side, behind the gills, are traditionally said to have been caused by the fingers of St. Peter, when he caught the fish to pay the tribute. The name is applied, also, to other fishes having similar spots.

Webster 1913

• . (Zoöl) (a) A pelagic carangoid fish (Naucrates ductor); so named because it is often seen in company with a shark, swimming near a ship, on account of which sailors imagine that it acts as a pilot to the shark . (b) The rudder fish (Seriola zonata).

Webster 1913

• noun the twelfth sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about February 19 to March 20
  Pisces; Fish.
  

WordNet

• noun tropical marine fishes having the teeth fused into a beak and thick skin covered with bony plates or spines
  plectognath.
  

WordNet

• noun small usually brightly-colored viviparous surface-feeding fishes of fresh or brackish warm waters; often used in mosquito control
  live-bearer; topminnow; poeciliid.
  

WordNet

• noun gaudy tropical fishes with parrotlike beaks formed by fusion of teeth
  pollyfish; parrotfish.
  

WordNet

• noun a person who is not very bright
  pillock; dullard; pudding head; stupe; stupid; pudden-head; stupid person; dolt.
  
  • The economy, stupid!

WordNet

• noun spines become erect when the body is inflated; worldwide in warm waters
  Diodon hystrix; porcupinefish.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any plectognath fish having the body covered with spines which become erect when the body is inflated. See Diodon, and Globefish.

Webster 1913

• noun black and gold grunt found from Bermuda to Caribbean to Brazil
  Anisotremus virginicus; porkfish.
  

WordNet

• noun small freshwater fish of South America and the West Indies; often kept in aquariums
  Lebistes reticulatus; guppy.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the swordfish. Obs.

Webster 1913

• noun deep-sea fish with a large head and body and long tapering tail
  rattail; grenadier.
  

WordNet

• noun any of several small wrasses with compressed sharp-edged heads of the West Indies and Mediterranean
  razor fish.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) A small Mediterranean fish (Coryphæna novacula), prized for the table . (b) The razor shell.

Webster 1913

• noun any of several small wrasses with compressed sharp-edged heads of the West Indies and Mediterranean
  razor fish.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) Any elongated, compressed, ribbon-shaped marine fish of the family Trachypteridæ, especially the species of the genus Trachypterus, and the oarfish (Regelecus Banksii) of the North Atlantic, which is sometimes over twenty feet long . (b) The hairtail, or bladefish . (c) A small compressed marine fish of the genus Cepola, having a long, slender, tapering tail. The European species (C. rubescens) is light red throughout. Called also band fish.

Webster 1913

• noun any fish useless for food or sport or even as bait
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) The pilot fish . (b) The amber fish (Seriola zonata), which is bluish having six broad black bands . (c) A plain greenish black American fish (Leirus perciformis); called also black rudder fish, logfish, and barrel fish. The name is also applied to other fishes which follow vessels.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the cutlass fish.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any one of fresh-water African fishes of the family Mormyridæ. Several large species inhabit the Nile and were considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians; especially Mormyris oxyrhynchus.

Webster 1913

• . (Zoöl.) See John Dory, under John.

Webster 1913

• . (a) Salted fish, especially cod, haddock, and similar fishes that have been salted and dried for food. (b) A marine fish.

Webster 1913

• noun flesh of fish from the sea used as food
  

WordNet

• noun small fantastically formed and colored fishes found among masses of sargassum
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a long, compressed, silver-colored tænioid fish (Lepidopus caudatus, ∨ argyreus), found on the European coasts, and more abundantly about New Zealand, where it is called frostfish and considered an excellent food fish.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the telescope fish; so called from its red color. See under Telescope.

Webster 1913

• noun widely distributed family of carnivorous percoid fishes having a large air bladder used to produce sound
  sciaenid.
  

WordNet

• noun important marine food and game fishes found in all tropical and temperate seas; some are at least partially endothermic and can thrive in colder waters
  scombroid.
  

WordNet

• noun any of numerous carnivorous usually bottom-dwelling warm-water marine fishes found worldwide but most abundant in the Pacific
  scorpaenid.
  

WordNet

• noun fishes having the head armored with bony plates
  scorpaenoid.
  

WordNet

• noun marine fishes having a tapering body with an armored head and venomous spines
  scorpionfish; sea scorpion.
  

WordNet

• the bellows fish.

Webster 1913

• noun large dark-striped tropical food and game fish related to remoras; found worldwide in coastal to open waters
  Rachycentron canadum; cobia.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a fish (Cepola rubescens) with a long, thin, compressed body, and a band of red running lengthwise.

Webster 1913

• noun marine food sport fishes mainly of warm coastal waters
  serranid.
  

WordNet

• noun slender tropical shallow-water East Indian fish covered with transparent plates
  shrimpfish.
  

WordNet

• noun Old World freshwater catfishes having naked skin and a long anal fin more or less merged with the eellike caudal fin
  silurid.
  

WordNet

• noun any of numerous mostly freshwater bottom-living fishes of Eurasia and North America with barbels like whiskers around the mouth
  catfish.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a California toadfish (Porichthys porosissimus).

Webster 1913

• noun clingfish with typical skillet shape
  Gobiesox strumosus; skilletfish.
  

WordNet

• noun tropical fishes with large mouths in lizard-like heads; found worldwide
  lizardfish; snakefish.
  

WordNet

• noun any fish of the superorder Malacopterygii
  malacopterygian.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a bright-colored etheostomoid fish (Etheostoma coeruleum) found in the Mississippi River; called also blue darter, and rainbow darter.

Webster 1913

• noun the larger squirrelfishes
  soldierfish.
  

WordNet

• noun spiny-finned food fishes of warm waters having well-developed teeth
  sparid.
  

WordNet

Spil"let fish`ing, Spil"liard fish`ing (Also<

• Spillet fishing
• Spilliard fishing

)

Definitions

1. A system or method of fishing by means of a number of hooks set on snoods all on one line; -- in North America, called trawl fishing, bultow, or bultow fishing, and long-line fishing.

Webster 1913

• noun a teleost fish with fins that are supported by sharp inflexible rays
  acanthopterygian.
  

WordNet

• noun any fish providing sport for the angler
  game fish.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.) (a) A sea bass (Serranus fascicularis) of the Southern United States . (b) The sailor's choice (Diplodus rhomboides) . (c) The redmouth, or grunt . (d) A market fish of Bermuda (Holocentrum Ascensione).

Webster 1913

• verb fish with the line and bait resting still or stationary in the water
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the amadavat.

Webster 1913

• noun small marine fish with a short compressed body and feeble spines
  stromateid; butterfish.
  

WordNet

• . See Sucking fish, under Sucking.

Webster 1913

• noun marine fishes with a flattened elongated body and a sucking disk on the head for attaching to large fish or moving objects
  suckerfish; remora.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the remora. See Remora. Baird.

Webster 1913

Su"le*ah fish`

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A coarse fish of India, used in making a breakfast relish called burtah.

Webster 1913

• noun a fish of the Pacific coast of North America
  surffish; yellowfin croaker; Umbrina roncador.
  
• noun small to medium-sized shallow-water fishes of the Pacific coast of North America
  surfperch; surffish.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of California embiotocoid fishes. See Embiotocoid.

Webster 1913

• noun casting (artificial) bait far out into the ocean (up to 200 yards) with the waves breaking around you
  surf casting.
  

WordNet

• . See def. 2, above.

Webster 1913

• . (Zoöl.) See Forkbeard (a).

Webster 1913

• a preparation of a variety of East Indian fish with the acid pulp of the tamarind fruit.

Webster 1913

• noun a bony fish of the subclass Teleostei
  teleost; teleostan.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a monstrous variety of the goldfish having very protuberant eyes.

Webster 1913

• noun fish having greatly elongated front rays on dorsal and anal fins
  threadfish; Alectis ciliaris.
  

WordNet

• to hoist the flukes to their resting place (called the bill-boards), and pass the shank painter.

Webster 1913

• . (Zoöl.) See Pipemouth.

Webster 1913

To*bi"as fish`

Etymology

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) The lant, or sand eel.

Webster 1913

• noun left-eyed marine flatfish whose tail tapers to a point; of little commercial value
  tonguefish.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a California market fish (Sebastichthys serriceps).

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a large plectognath fish (Balistes Carolinensis or B. capriscus) common on the southern coast of the United States, and valued as a food fish in some localities. Its rough skin is used for scouring and polishing in the place of sandpaper. Called also leather jacket, and turbot.

Webster 1913

• . (Zoöl.) (a) The bellows fish. (b) The fistularia.

Webster 1913

• noun important warm-water fatty fish of the genus Thunnus of the family Scombridae; usually served as steaks
  tuna; tunny.
  

WordNet

• noun salad composed primarily of chopped canned tuna fish
  tuna salad.
  

WordNet

• noun having only pectoral fins enlarged
  monoplane flying fish.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the narwhal.

Webster 1913

• noun an agency in the Department of the Interior that conserves and protects fish and wildlife and their habitats; assesses the environmental impact of pesticides and nuclear power site and hydroelectric dams and thermal pollution
  United States Fish and Wildlife Service; FWS.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a diodon.

Webster 1913

• noun an agency in the Department of the Interior that conserves and protects fish and wildlife and their habitats; assesses the environmental impact of pesticides and nuclear power site and hydroelectric dams and thermal pollution
  United States Fish and Wildlife Service; FWS.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a small, slender, phosphorescent deep-sea fish (Chauliodus Sloanii). It has long ventral and dorsal fins, a large mouth, and very long, sharp teeth.

Webster 1913

• . (Zoöl.) See Embiotocoid.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of Asiatic fishes of the genus Ophiocephalus, some of which, as O. marulius, become over four feet long. They have a special cavity over the gills lined with a membrane adapted to retain moisture to aid in respiration, and are thus able to travel considerable distances over the land at night, whence the name. They construct a curious nest for their young. Called also langya.

Webster 1913

• noun large ferocious northern deep-sea food fishes with strong teeth and no pelvic fins
  catfish; wolffish.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any one of several species of large, voracious marine fishes of the genus Anarrhichas, especially the common species (A. lupus) of Europe and North America. These fishes have large teeth and powerful jaws. Called also catfish, sea cat, sea wolf, stone biter, and swinefish.

Webster 1913

• noun poorly known family of small tropical shallow-water fishes related to gobies
  

WordNet

• noun a fish that is young
  

WordNet