sheepshead

[ sheeps-hed ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) sheeps·head, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) sheeps·heads

1. a deep-bodied, black-banded food fish, Archosargus probatocephalus, living along the Atlantic coast of the United States, chiefly around southwest Florida, and southward to Brazil.
2. a freshwater fish, the drum Aplodinotus grunniens, found throughout the eastern half of the United States and southward to Guatemala.
3. sheephead ( def ).
4. Also called schafskopf. Cards. an earlier and simpler form of skat.
5. Obsolete. a foolish or stupid person.

sheepshead

/ ˈʃiːpsˌhɛd /

noun

1. any of several sparid fishes with strong crushing teeth, esp Archosargus rhomboidalis, of the American Atlantic, which is marked with dark bands

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheepshead¹

First recorded in 1535–45; sheep + 's ¹ + head

Example Sentences

“Got him in without breaking the line; that’s not easy. This is a sheepshead, also called a convict fish—see the stripes?”

From Literature

Some fish species such as the Asian sheepshead wrasse take this one step further and change sex during their lifetime.

From Washington Post

Evans said he hopes some enterprising researchers will take a closer look in the mouth of the sheepshead fish.

From Seattle Times

Mr Martin said he had been hoping to catch a sheepshead fish when he came face-to-face with a "mouth full of teeth".

From BBC

The fish has been identified as a sheepshead and according to experts, it’s perfectly normal for them to have teeth like this.

From Fox News