- Main Entry:
- 1fish
- Pronunciation:
-
\ˈfish\
- Function:
- noun
- Inflected Form(s):
- plural fish or fish·es
- Usage:
- often attributive
- Etymology:
- Middle English, from Old English fisc; akin to Old High German fisc fish, Latin piscis
- Date:
- before 12th century
1 a: an aquatic animal —usually used in combination <starfish><cuttlefish> b: any of numerous cold-blooded strictly aquatic craniate vertebrates that include the bony fishes and usually the cartilaginous and jawless fishes and that have typically an elongated somewhat spindle-shaped body terminating in a broad caudal fin, limbs in the form of fins when present at all, and a 2-chambered heart by which blood is sent through thoracic gills to be oxygenated2: the flesh of fish used as food3 a: a person who is caught or is wanted (as in a criminal investigation) b: fellow, person <an odd fish> c: sucker 5a4: something that resembles a fish: as aplural capitalized : pisces 1; also : pisces 2a b: torpedo 2b
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fish·less \ˈfish-ləs\ adjective —
fish·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective —
fish out of water : a person who is in an unnatural or uncomfortable sphere or situation
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fish to fry : concerns or interests to pursue —usually used with other
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neither fish nor fowl : one that does not belong to a particular class or category
