marlin

¹

[ mahr-lin ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) mar·lin, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) mar·lins.

1. any large, saltwater game fish of the genera Makaira and Tetrapterus, having the upper jaw elongated into a spearlike structure.

Marlin

²

[ mahr-lin ]

noun

1. a male given name.

marlin

/ ˈmɑːlɪn /

noun

1. any of several large scombroid food and game fishes of the genera Makaira, Istiompax, and Tetrapturus, of warm and tropical seas, having a very long upper jaw: family Istiophoridae Also calledspearfish

Word History and Origins

Origin of marlin¹

1915–20, Americanism; short for marlinespike

Word History and Origins

Origin of marlin¹

C20: from marlinespike ; with allusion to the shape of the beak

Example Sentences

Striped marlin are some of the fastest animals on the planet and one of the ocean's top predators.

From Science Daily

A transatlantic rowing crew have been forced to patch up their boat with an empty champagne bottle and a broken oar after being attacked by a marlin.

From BBC

Soon, Crouser will be on a boat in Mexico and reeling in marlin with his fly-fishing rod.

From Seattle Times

“We will see a shift in distribution of marlin species, tuna.”

From Seattle Times

Monster marlin: They caught the fish, but the $3.5 million prize got away.

From New York Times