muttonfish

noun

mut·​ton·​fish ˈmə-tᵊn-ˌfish How to pronounce muttonfish (audio)
: a common snapper (Lutjanus analis) of the warmer parts of the western Atlantic that is usually olive green and sometimes nearly white or tinged with rosy red and that is an important food and sport fish

called also mutton snapper

Word History

Etymology

from its flavor

First Known Use

1735, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of muttonfish was in 1735

Dictionary Entries Near muttonfish

Cite this Entry

“Muttonfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muttonfish. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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