dogfish

American  

[dawg-fish, dog-] / ˈdɔgˌfɪʃ, ˈdɒg- /

noun

dogfishes plural

1. any of several small sharks, especially of the genera Mustelus and Squalus, that are destructive to food fishes.

2. any of various other fishes, such as the bowfin.

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dogfish British  

/ ˈdɒɡˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any of several small spotted European sharks, esp Scyliorhinus caniculus ( lesser spotted dogfish ): family Scyliorhinidae

2. any small shark of the family Squalidae, esp Squalus acanthias ( spiny dogfish ), typically having a spine on each dorsal fin

3. any small smooth-skinned shark of the family Triakidae, esp Mustelus canis ( smooth dogfish or smooth hound )

4. a less common name for the bowfin

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• dogfish
  plural
• dogfishes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of dogfish

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; dog + fish

Example Sentences

Calagione, who co-founded Dogfish Head Brewery in Delaware, said she never wanted to be in the middle of the line.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025

The former, predominantly craft, don’t offer many surprises outside of rotating Dogfish Head and Sam Adams lines; the latter feature cocktails from sister bars, such as the Cortez Margarita and the Boardwalk Mojito.

From Washington Post • Aug. 4, 2022

How a kid kicked out of prep school accomplished it all is the backbone of “The Dogfish Head Book,” a new overstuffed book that chronicles the trajectory.

From New York Times • Nov. 1, 2021

In one potentially positive sign, Philadelphian Peter Rosa, who normally chooses regional craft brands such as Dogfish Head and Troeg, said he turned to Bud Light this season when watching his beloved Eagles.

From Reuters • Feb. 1, 2019

Among the more common ones in Atlantic waters are the Smooth Dogfish which have pavement-like teeth; the Sand Shark with catlike teeth; the Hammerhead Shark with its eyes on stalks.

From Scouting For Girls, Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts by Bacon, Josephine Dodge Daskam