/hwuyt"fish', wuyt"-/ , n. , pl. ( esp. collectively ) whitefish , ( esp. referring to two or more kinds or species ) whitefishes .
1. any of several fishes of the family Coregonidae, inhabiting northern waters of North America and Eurasia, similar to the trout but having a smaller mouth and larger scales. Cf. lake whitefish, round whitefish .
2. a marine food fish of California, Caulolatilus princeps.
3. any of various silvery fishes of the minnow or carp family.
4. the beluga, Delphinapterus leucas.
[ 1425-75; late ME; see WHITE, FISH ]