spadefish

noun

spade·​fish ˈspād-ˌfish How to pronounce spadefish (audio)
: a laterally compressed bony fish (Chaetodipterus faber of the family Ephippidae) that resembles the angelfishes and is found in the warmer parts of the western Atlantic

Examples of spadefish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Determining a new species like the spadefish requires hours and hours to meticulously measure the length and number of fins, body parts and the distance between body parts. Danielle Hall, Smithsonian, 10 Sep. 2019 In Galveston Bay, only a few scattered of handfuls of dead fish, almost all of them mullet, spadefish or other small forage species have been reported. Shannon Tompkins, Houston Chronicle, 6 Jan. 2018 The team has captured a trove of arresting scenes: a shipwrecked steamer in Thunder Bay, a school of striped Atlantic spadefish gliding through Gray’s Reef, a sunken statue of Christ encrusted with marine creatures in the Florida Keys. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, 22 May 2017 And the kids will compete in several species not available during the ADSFR, including sea robins, croakers, hardhead catfish, spadefish, oysterfish, pinfish and whiting. Frank Sargeant, AL.com, 16 July 2017 Sanders, who’s caught goliaths on mackerel, 5- to 10-pound jacks, half a barracuda and even a spadefish, uses 9-0 to 12-0 hooks, which are typically used to catch marlin and sharks. Steve Waters, Sun-Sentinel.com, 23 June 2017 The team has captured a trove of arresting scenes: a shipwrecked steamer in Thunder Bay, a school of striped Atlantic spadefish gliding through Gray’s Reef, a sunken statue of Christ encrusted with marine creatures in the Florida Keys. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, 23 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spadefish.' 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

1704, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spadefish was in 1704

Dictionary Entries Near spadefish

Cite this Entry

“Spadefish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spadefish. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

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