surfperch

[ surf-purch ]

noun

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

1. any of several fishes of the viviparous family Embiotocidae, mostly inhabiting shallow waters along the Pacific coast of North America: named for certain similarities to perch.

surfperch

/ ˈsɜːfˌpɜːtʃ /

noun

1. any viviparous marine percoid fish of the family Embiotocidae, of North American Pacific coastal waters Also calledsea perch

Word History and Origins

Origin of surfperch¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; surf + perch ²