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cusk

noun \ ˈkəsk \

Definition of cusk

plural cusk or cusks

1 : a large edible North Atlantic fish (Brosme brosme) of the cod family

2 : burbot

Recent Examples of cusk from the Web

And Mr. Haatuft works only with fishermen who pull in wild creatures like cusk, sea urchins, langoustines and mahogany clams — big specimens with thick brown shells that live for up to 400 years.

— julia moskin, New York Times, "North of Nordic: A Young Chef Invents ‘Neo-Fjordic’ Cuisine," 18 July 2017
All are apt descriptions for a 19-pound, 11-ounce eelpout (aka burbot, aka lawyer, lingcod, cusk and a host of other unbecoming nicknames) caught by Brent Getzler of Roosevelt.

— dave orrick, Twin Cities, "Fat burbot: MN man sets record for biggest eelpout. (That’s a fish.)," 5 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cusk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cusk

probably alteration of tusk, a kind of codfish

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1616

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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See words that rhyme with cusk Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cusk

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