flatfish

[ flat-fish ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) flat·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) flat·fish·es.

1. any fish of the order Heterosomata (Pleuronectiformes), including the halibut, sole, flounder, etc., having a greatly compressed body and swimming on one side, with both eyes on the upper side in the adult.

flatfish

/ ˈflætˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any marine spiny-finned fish of the order Heterosomata , including the halibut, plaice, turbot, and sole, all of which (when adult) swim along the sea floor on one side of the body, which is highly compressed and has both eyes on the uppermost side

Word History and Origins

Origin of flatfish¹

First recorded in 1700–10; flat ¹ + fish

Example Sentences

Saint Petersburg is very ill supplied with salt-water fish; there are neither lobsters nor flatfish.

From Project Gutenberg

Wasnt any splash except when I threw that big flatfish overboard, said the skipper.

From Project Gutenberg

They breathed heavily through their noses and stared straight in front of them—impassive as flatfish.

From Project Gutenberg

And thinkin' no more of it than I would of—of scalin' a flatfish.

From Project Gutenberg

We knew we'd no business to be there and we felt as foolish as flatfish.

From Project Gutenberg