butterfish

American  

[buht-er-fish] / ˈbʌt ərˌfɪʃ /

noun

plural

butterfishes,

plural

butterfish

1. a small, flattened, marine food fish, Peprilus triacanthus, of Atlantic coastal waters of the United States, having very small scales and smooth skin.

2. the rock gunnel. gunnel1

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butterfish British  

/ ˈbʌtəˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. an eel-like blennioid food fish, Pholis gunnellus , occurring in North Atlantic coastal regions: family Pholidae (gunnels). It has a slippery scaleless golden brown skin with a row of black spots along the base of the long dorsal fin

2. Also called: greenbone.   marari.  an edible reef fish, Coridodax pullus , of esp S New Zealand. It has a slippery purplish-grey to olive-green skin and is often found browsing on kelp

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Etymology

Origin of butterfish

First recorded in 1665–75; butter + fish

Example Sentences

On Eastern Egg Rock, I was led to burrows where I twisted around underneath until I could see the rotting, rejected butterfish that led to chicks starving to death.

From Salon • Jan. 7, 2022

The birds can suffer when waters warm and squid and butterfish, which aren’t good puffin food, dominate local waters, Major said.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 5, 2019

The birds can suffer when waters warm and squid and butterfish, which aren’t good puffin food, dominate local waters, Major said.

From Washington Times • Aug. 5, 2019

Because regulators could not make a judgment about the status of the species, butterfish fishing was temporarily suspended.

From New York Times • Dec. 30, 2016

At the shop they bought mackerel, and butterfish, and sea bass.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri