royal fish

noun

1

English law : marine animals (as whale, sturgeon or porpoises) of superior excellence that belong to the crown when cast ashore or caught in territorial waters

2

Scots law

a

: whales of such large size as to entitle the sovereign to claim them

b

: salmon in the sea and mussels and oysters that can be lawfully taken in public or private rivers only by license of the crown although the latter do not belong officially to the crown

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined above

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