/hal"euh beuht, hol"-/ , n. , pl. ( esp. collectively ) halibut , ( esp. referring to two or more kinds or species ) halibuts .
1. either of two large flatfishes, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, of the North Atlantic, or H. stenolepis, of the North Pacific, used for food.
2. any of various other similar flatfishes.
Also, holibut .
[ 1350-1400; ME halybutte, equiv. to haly (var. of HOLY) + butte flat fish ( heilbot, G Heilbutt ]