hagfish

American  

[hag-fish] / ˈhægˌfɪʃ /

noun

plural

hagfish,

plural

hagfishes

1. any eellike, marine cyclostome of the order Myxiniformes, having undeveloped eyes, a barbel-rimmed, circular mouth, and horny teeth for boring into the flesh of fishes to feed on their interior parts.

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hagfish British  

/ ˈhæɡˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. Often shortened to: hag.  any eel-like marine cyclostome vertebrate of the family Myxinidae, having a round sucking mouth and feeding on the tissues of other animals and on dead organic material

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Etymology

Origin of hagfish

First recorded in 1605–15; hag ¹ + fish

Example Sentences

"The cell clusters we observed are likely lamprey-specific features, as they are not recognizable in the head mesoderm of both hagfish and shark embryos," explains Dr. Onai.

From Science Daily • Jan. 10, 2024

The whale’s stomach contained six hagfish traps, seven types of fishing net, two types of plastic bags, a light protector, fishing line and a float from a net.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 2, 2023

They’ve fished for black cod, rockfish, hagfish and “dabbled in tuna.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 1, 2021

A truck hauling 7,500 pounds of hagfish, also known as slime eels, was traveling on Highway 101 around noon, transporting the fish to be exported to South Korea, where some diners consider them a delicacy.

From New York Times • Jul. 14, 2017

The skeleton of a hagfish is composed of cartilage, which includes a cartilaginous notochord, which runs the length of the body, and a skull.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013