oarfish

noun

oar·​fish ˈȯr-ˌfish How to pronounce oarfish (audio)
: a marine bony fish (Regalecus glesne) of subtropical waters with a narrow soft body from 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters) long, a red dorsal fin running the entire length of the body, and red-tipped anterior rays rising above the head

Examples of oarfish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In early November, an oarfish was found dead in California. Jessica Botelho, Baltimore Sun, 20 Feb. 2025 What do scientists say dead oarfish sightings mean? Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025 More recently, a 4.4-magnitude earthquake occurred in Los Angeles in August 2024, two days after another oarfish sighting. Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025 The oarfish is a mysterious deep-sea fish known for its elongated, ribbon-like body and shimmering silver scales. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025 In Japanese mythology, oarfish are viewed as harbingers of doom, signaling impending earthquakes. Amanda Holpuch, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025 Research published in 2018 shows a correlation between oarfish strandings and El Niño years. David Bressan, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025 The oarfish's eerie, serpentine appearance and deep-sea origins have cemented its reputation as a creature of mystery and superstition. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025 It’s believed the oarfish were sent from the palace toward the surface to warn people of earthquakes. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oarfish was in 1860

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Cite this Entry

“Oarfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oarfish. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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