dogtooth tuna

noun

plural dogtooth tuna or dogtooth tunas

: a medium-sized nearly scaleless tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor) of the Indian and southwestern Pacific Ocean that has a large mouth with long conical teeth, often reaches a length of over five feet (1.5 meters), and is valued especially as a sport fish

On ledges and drop-offs along the cliff walls, small groups of big dogtooth tuna wait for the baitfish.

—Steve Cooper

For a species rarely encountered in local waters, fearsome looking dogtooth tuna occupy the thoughts of a lot of West Australian anglers.

—The Sunday Times (Australia)

called also bonito

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above