I. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
( plural whitefish or whitefishes )
Etymology: Middle English whitfish, from whit white + fish
1.
a. : any of various food fishes (family Salmonidae) especially of the genus Coregonus that resemble the salmon and trout in having an adipose dorsal fin but have a smaller and nearly or quite toothless mouth and that inhabit clear lakes and streams of No. America, Europe, and Asia — see lake whitefish , menominee whitefish , rocky mountain whitefish ; compare cisco , houting , lake herring
b. : any of various fishes (as a menhaden, a young bluefish, or a whiting) in some respect felt to resemble the true whitefishes
c. Britain : any of various market fishes (as cod, sole, halibut) with white flesh that is not oily
d. : beluga
2. : the flesh of a whitefish especially as an article of food
II. intransitive verb
: to fish for whitefish
• whitefisher ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ noun
• whitefishery ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷( ̷ ̷) ̷ ̷ noun