goosefish

noun

goose·​fish ˈgüs-ˌfish How to pronounce goosefish (audio)
: any of a family (Lophiidae) of pediculate fishes with a large flattened head, a fringe of flaps along each side of the lower jaw, head, and body, and a long stalk on the head with a flap of flesh at the tip for attracting prey
especially : monkfish

Examples of goosefish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Monkfish, also known as goosefish, are predatory fish that camouflage themselves on the ocean bottom and can grow to be about 5 feet long. Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'goosefish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of goosefish was in 1807

Dictionary Entries Near goosefish

Cite this Entry

“Goosefish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goosefish. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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