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

One of the most painful sights of being in the blinds is seeing unlucky puffin parents bringing only the dreaded butterfish to the burrows.

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

But when a team of scientists began talking to fishermen, they realized that the earlier survey had not taken into account the movements of the butterfish in response to changes in water temperature.

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