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garpike

 - 5 dictionary results

gar⋅pike

  [gahr-pahyk]
Use garpike in a Sentence
–noun
gar 1 .
Origin:
1770–80; formed after garfish

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.
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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·pike   (gär'pīk')   
n.  See gar1.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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
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