I. ˈfish noun
( plural fish or fish·es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fisc; akin to Old High German fisc fish, Latin piscis
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : an aquatic animal — usually used in combination
star fish
cuttle fish
b. : any of numerous cold-blooded strictly aquatic craniate vertebrates that include the bony fishes and usually the cartilaginous and jawless fishes and that have typically an elongated somewhat spindle-shaped body terminating in a broad caudal fin, limbs in the form of fins when present at all, and a 2-chambered heart by which blood is sent through thoracic gills to be oxygenated
2. : the flesh of fish used as food
3.
a. : a person who is caught or is wanted (as in a criminal investigation)
b. : fellow , person
an odd fish
c. : sucker 5a
4. : something that resembles a fish: as
a. plural , capitalized : Pisces 1 ; also : Pisces 2a
b. : torpedo 2b
• fish·less ˈfish-ləs adjective
• fish·like -ˌlīk adjective
•
- fish out of water
- fish to fry
- neither fish nor fowl
[
fish 1b: 1 mandible, 2 nasal opening, 3 eye, 4 cheek, 5 operculum, 6 dorsal fins, 7 lateral line, 8 caudal fin, 9 scales, 10 anal fin, 11 anus, 12 pectoral fin, 13 pelvic fin, 14 maxilla, 15 premaxilla, 16 upper jaw
]
II. verb
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1. : to attempt to catch fish
2. : to seek something by roundabout means
fish ing for a compliment
3.
a. : to search for something underwater
fish for pearls
b. : to engage in a search by groping or feeling
fish ing around in her purse for her keys
transitive verb
1.
a. : to try to catch fish in
b. : to fish with : use (as a boat, net, or bait) in fishing
2.
a. : to go fishing for
fish salmon
b. : to pull or draw as if fishing
fish ed the ball from under the car
fish wires through a conduit
• fish·abil·i·ty ˌfi-shə-ˈbi-lə-tē noun
• fish·able ˈfi-shə-bəl adjective
•
- fish or cut bait