Definition of HALIBUT

Did You Know?

Among the different kinds of fish found in the world’s oceans is a group called the flatfish. Flatfish are well named, for they have flattened bodies with both eyes on the upper side of the head. In Middle English the word for flatfish was butte. During the Middle Ages, fish was often eaten on holy days in place of meat. The most popular fish for the holy days was the largest variety of flatfish, or “butte.” Thus, this particular fish came to be called in Middle English halybutte, meaning literally “holy flatfish,” from haly, a form of holy, and butte. In modern English the spelling has been changed to halibut.

Examples of halibut in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Water Grill in the Gaslamp Quarter will serve roasted wild Alaskan halibut with lobster sauce and your choice of by-the-glass wine and for dessert, sweet gaviota strawberries with fromage blanc sorbet and pistachio tuile. — Carolina Gusman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "117 ways to celebrate mom: Your San Diego guide to Mother's Day brunches, lunches and dinners," 7 May 2018 Book a table in advance or make a reservation for the private dining room—decorated with a conceptual chandelier from designer Lindsey Adelman—to enjoy Marchand’s seasonal cuisine, like fluke carpaccio and halibut grenobloise. — Town & Country, "Inside NYC's Latest Hub for Design, Dining, and Culture," 27 Dec. 2018 In the Bering Sea, halibut, pollock and cod are moving away. — Robert Lee Hotz, WSJ, "Climate Change Drives Fish Into New Waters, Remaking an Industry," 22 Dec. 2018 Think of the foods that are abundant in the Pacific Northwest: salmon, halibut, cod, shellfish, clams, mussels, oysters, seaweed. — Sandy M. Fernandez, Woman's Day, "How Three Women Are Pioneering to End Hunger in the U.S.," 14 Nov. 2018 Twice this past fall, the Oracle sailed 800 miles north from the seaport of Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, before finding the halibut that a decade ago lived several hundred miles closer to home. — Robert Lee Hotz, WSJ, "Climate Change Drives Fish Into New Waters, Remaking an Industry," 22 Dec. 2018 Salmon is still pretty spendy (and the heartbreaking Copper River fishing closure likely won't help that), but whole halibut has been a decent deal, at just around $10 a pound at local seafood markets. — Anchorage Daily News, "How Alaska Eats: Make the historic Alaska cocktail (and other local food notes)," 15 June 2018 Guests enjoyed a curated dinner, with charcuterie and halibut ceviche by chefs Marie Sadron and Aimee Hunter. — Julia Russo, Vogue, "An Evening Under the Stars: We the Women Collective Hosts a Variety Show at the Venice Beach House," 18 Sep. 2018 Research has shown that the whales will eat other fish — chum, coho, steelhead, halibut and lingcod. — Lynda V. Mapes, The Seattle Times, "Struggling orcas heavily rely on urban chinook from Seattle-area rivers, new analysis shows," 24 July 2018

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