silverfish

noun

sil·​ver·​fish ˈsil-vər-ˌfish 

1

: any of various silvery fishes (such as a tarpon or silverside)

2

: any of various small wingless insects (order Thysanura)

especially : one (Lepisma saccharinum) found in houses and sometimes injurious especially to sized papers or starched clothes

Examples of silverfish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Chapter, one of Hanoi’s newest fine-dining restaurants, offers an exceptional 12-course tasting menu, with ingenious dishes featuring tamarind, scallops, silverfish, duck and venison. —Chris Humphrey, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2024

Not only that, insects, including silverfish, termites, and carpet beetles, to name a few, love to feed on paper. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2024

Frequently Asked Questions What attracts silverfish in your house? —Sherri Gordon, Health, 7 Sep. 2024

Their extensive repertoire encompasses combating an array of pests, including ants, bed bugs, bees, wasps, hornets, boxelder bugs, cockroaches, crickets, fleas, flies, mice, rats, mosquitoes, silverfish, spiders, stink bugs, termites and ticks. —The Dreamer Media, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

silverfish

noun

sil·​ver·​fish ˈsil-vər-ˌfish 

: any of various small wingless insects

especially : one that is found in houses and feeds on paper products, clothing, and other starchy materials