squawfish

[ skwaw-fish ]

noun

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

1. any of several large, voracious cyprinid fishes of the genus Ptychocheilus, inhabiting rivers of the western United States and Canada: The Colorado squawfish, P. lucius, is endangered.

Word History and Origins

Origin of squawfish¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; squaw + fish

Example Sentences

The reward program helps get rid, but not eliminate these juvenile salmon- and steelhead-devouring native predators better known as “squawfish.”

From Seattle Times

Squawfish are attracted to light-colored lures in the day and darker ones at night.

From Seattle Times

Squawfish are attracted to light-colored lures in the day and darker ones at night.

From Seattle Times

The reward program helps get rid, but not eliminate these juvenile salmon- and steelhead-devouring native predators better known as “squawfish.”

From Seattle Times

Wilson learned to read the sea from his grandmother, who could tell from her front porch where to find squawfish and grunters at low tide.

From Washington Times