butterfish
noun
but·ter·fish
ˈbə-tər-ˌfish 
: any of numerous bony fishes (especially family Stromateidae) with a slippery coating of mucus
Examples of butterfish in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The zoo’s five gray seals are fed herring, butterfish, capelin, mackerel and squid.
—
Lee Powell, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
Made to mimic local Rhode Island baitfish, such as butterfish, sand eels, tinker mackerel, and peanut bunker, Point Judes have an enticing action aided by a keel running down the length of the lure.
—Jimmy Fee, Field & Stream, 13 Sep. 2023
Additional seasonal specials and libations for Mother’s Day include old-fashioned cedar plank salmon, Rockefeller butterfish, carrot lava cake and a crushed pineapple martini.
—The Courier-Journal, 8 May 2023
Honolulu’s Polynesian food, such as poi (a thick paste made from the taro root), lau lau (pork and butterfish wrapped in taro leaves and baked), poké (raw cubed fish) and shaved ice (frequently drizzled with fruit syrup) are always in demand.
—Laura Manske, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2022
With less traditional fare available, adult seabirds were forced to feed their chicks butterfish, which can be too girthy to fit into young seabirds’ mouths, meaning many choked or starved.
—Dharna Noor, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Oct. 2022
With less availability of their traditional food, the seabirds have been forced to feed their chicks butterfish, which can be too large to fit in their tiny mouths.
—David Abel, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2022
Dad will also enjoy these seasonal dishes, shrimp skewers, Rockefeller butterfish, Baja scallops and shrimp scampi pasta, carrot lava cake and strawberry citrus martini.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 13 June 2022
Seasonal specials are also available including Rockefeller butterfish, Baja scallops, shrimp scampi pasta, and molten chocolate lava cake.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 4 Feb. 2022
Lee Powell, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
Made to mimic local Rhode Island baitfish, such as butterfish, sand eels, tinker mackerel, and peanut bunker, Point Judes have an enticing action aided by a keel running down the length of the lure.
—Jimmy Fee, Field & Stream, 13 Sep. 2023
Additional seasonal specials and libations for Mother’s Day include old-fashioned cedar plank salmon, Rockefeller butterfish, carrot lava cake and a crushed pineapple martini.
—The Courier-Journal, 8 May 2023
Honolulu’s Polynesian food, such as poi (a thick paste made from the taro root), lau lau (pork and butterfish wrapped in taro leaves and baked), poké (raw cubed fish) and shaved ice (frequently drizzled with fruit syrup) are always in demand.
—Laura Manske, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2022
With less traditional fare available, adult seabirds were forced to feed their chicks butterfish, which can be too girthy to fit into young seabirds’ mouths, meaning many choked or starved.
—Dharna Noor, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Oct. 2022
With less availability of their traditional food, the seabirds have been forced to feed their chicks butterfish, which can be too large to fit in their tiny mouths.
—David Abel, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2022
Dad will also enjoy these seasonal dishes, shrimp skewers, Rockefeller butterfish, Baja scallops and shrimp scampi pasta, carrot lava cake and strawberry citrus martini.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 13 June 2022
Seasonal specials are also available including Rockefeller butterfish, Baja scallops, shrimp scampi pasta, and molten chocolate lava cake.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 4 Feb. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'butterfish.' 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
1673, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near butterfish
Cite this Entry
“Butterfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butterfish. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
butterfish
noun
but·ter·fish
-ˌfish
: any of numerous fishes with a slippery coating of mucus
More from Merriam-Webster on butterfish
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about butterfish
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