/hayk/ , n. , pl. ( esp. collectively ) hake , ( esp. referring to two or more kinds or species ) hakes .
1. any marine fish of the genus Merluccius, closely related to the cods, esp. M. bilinearis, found off the New England coast.
2. any of several related marine fishes, esp. of the genus Urophycis.
[ 1275-1325; ME; special use of OE haca hook; cf. MLG haken kipper salmon ]