sawfish

[ saw-fish ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) saw·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) saw·fish·es.

1. a large, elongated ray of the genus Pristis, living along tropical coasts and lowland rivers, with a bladelike snout bearing strong teeth on each side.

sawfish

/ ˈsɔːˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any sharklike ray of the family Pristidae of subtropical coastal waters and estuaries, having a serrated bladelike mouth

Word History and Origins

Origin of sawfish¹

First recorded in 1655–65; saw ¹ + fish

Example Sentences

It was rescued April 5 off Cudjoe Key, part of an abnormal fish die-off that has killed at least 45 sawfish and other fish species as well.

From Seattle Times

Then, in January, the mysterious ailment began afflicting smalltooth sawfish, a type of large, prehistoric-looking ray named for the look of its long snout lined with sharp teeth.

From New York Times

“It’s important to note that active rescue and rehabilitation are not always effective in saving stranded animals,” said Adam Brame, sawfish recovery coordinator for NOAA.

From Seattle Times

To find out, she and colleagues examined 17 genomes from various species of sharks, skates, and sawfish.

From Science Magazine

A snaggletoothed cetacean that lived off the waters near New Zealand used teeth projected from its snout to stun prey, much as modern sawfish do.

From New York Times