spadefish

[ speyd-fish ]

noun

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

1. a deep-bodied marine fish of the genus Chaetodipterus, especially C. faber of Atlantic coastal waters of North America.

spadefish

/ ˈspeɪdˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any spiny-finned food fish of the family Ephippidae, esp Chaetodipterus faber of American Atlantic coastal waters, having a deeply compressed body

Word History and Origins

Origin of spadefish¹

First recorded in 1695–1705; probably spade ² + fish, in allusion to its shape

Example Sentences

I could tell it was a spadefish but had to figure out what kind, since there are a lot.

From Washington Post

That largest affected tank held an exhibit called the Islands of Steel, featuring nurse sharks, green moray eels, spadefish, amberjack, tarpon, grouper and a sand tiger shark, according to the aquarium’s website.

From Los Angeles Times

He said he has seen striped bass at the reef, as well as spadefish, which are typically found in Virginia, and black sea bass, which are new to the area.

From Washington Post

It is — I’m not sure I’m going to pronounce this right — an orbicular batfish, related to spadefish that you can find on the East Coast.

From Washington Post