butterfish

noun

but·​ter·​fish ˈbə-tər-ˌfish How to pronounce butterfish (audio)
: 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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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

Word History

First Known Use

1673, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of butterfish was in 1673

Dictionary Entries Near butterfish

Cite this Entry

“Butterfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butterfish. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

butterfish

noun
but·​ter·​fish -ˌfish How to pronounce butterfish (audio)
: any of numerous fishes with a slippery coating of mucus

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