Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Nearby Words

Garfish

 - 5 dictionary results

gar⋅fish

  [gahr-fish]
Use Garfish in a Sentence
–noun, plural (especially collectively) -fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) -fish⋅es.
gar 1 .
Origin:
1400–50; late ME; cf. OE gār spear

gar

1  [gahr]
–noun, plural (especially collectively) gar, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) gars.
1. Also called garfish, garpike. any predaceous freshwater fish of the genus Lepisosteus, of North America, covered with hard, diamond-shaped scales and having long jaws with needlelike teeth.
2. needlefish (def. 1).
Origin:
1755–65, Americanism; shortened form of garfish
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Garfish
gar 1   (gär)   
n.  

  1. Any of several ganoid fishes of the family Lepisosteidae of fresh and brackish waters of North and Central America, having long narrow jaws, an elongated body, and a long snout.

  2. A similar or related fish, such as the needlefish. Also called garfish, garpike.


[Short for garfish.]
gar·fish   (gär'fĭsh')   
n.   pl. garfish or gar·fish·es
See gar1.

[Middle English : gare, spear (from Old English gār) + fish, fish; see fish.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

gar 
"pike-like fish," 1765, Amer.Eng., shortening of garfish (c.1440), from O.E. gar "spear," from P.Gmc. *gaizo- (cf. O.N. geirr, O.H.G. ger, Ger. Ger "spear").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see Garfish on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way