/sil"veuhr fish'/ , n. , pl. ( esp. collectively ) silverfish , ( esp. referring to two or more kinds or species ) silverfishes .
1. a white or silvery goldfish, Carassius auratus.
2. any of various other silvery fishes, as the tarpon, silversides, or shiner.
3. a wingless, silvery-gray thysanuran insect, Lepisma saccharina, that feeds on starch, damaging books, wallpaper, etc.
[ 1695-1705; SILVER + FISH ]