Bombay duck

noun

1. a small lizardfish, Harpadon nehereus, inhabiting river mouths and estuaries of Asia.
2. (in India) the flesh of this fish, impregnated with asafetida, dried, salted, and used as a condiment or relish, especially with curry.

Bombay duck

noun

1. a teleost fish, Harpodon nehereus , that resembles and is related to the lizard fishes: family Harpodontidae . It is eaten dried with curry dishes as a savoury Also calledbummalo

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bombay duck¹

First recorded in 1665–75

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bombay duck¹

C19: changed from bombil (see bummalo ) through association with Bombay (now Mumbai), from which it was exported