tautog

[ taw-tog, -tawg, tou-tog ]

noun

1. a dark-colored wrasse, Tautoga onitis, a popular game and food fish inhabiting waters along the North Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to South Carolina.

tautog

/ tɔːˈtɒɡ /

noun

1. a large dark-coloured wrasse, Tautoga onitis, of the North American coast of the Atlantic Ocean: used as a food fish Also calledblackfish

Word History and Origins

Origin of tautog¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1635–45; from Narragansett ( English spelling) tautaũog, plural of taut

Word History and Origins

Origin of tautog¹

C17: from Narraganset tautauog, plural of tautau sheepshead

Example Sentences

By ten o'clock there were six dozen perch in the basket, besides three handsome tautog and half a dozen sea flounders.

From Project Gutenberg

Yes, more too; I left six dozen perch and three handsome tautog in his kitchen just now.

From Project Gutenberg

She could remain in the cabin of the motor boat while the others were fishing off the rocks for tautog and rock-bass.

From Project Gutenberg

Either Mr. Tautog had been very, very careful when he nibbled the bait, or the said bait had slipped off.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a damp little hollow, and Mr. Tautog could not flop out into the sea again.

From Project Gutenberg