dogfish

American  

[dawg-fish, dog-] / ˈdɔgˌfɪʃ, ˈdɒg- /

noun

dogfish, plural 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

Noun Inflected Forms

• 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 value draft beer at the home opener was the SeaQuench Ale from Dogfish Head.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 19, 2022

Impressed, Dogfish Head encouraged its followers to participate in Red Cross blood drives.

From New York Times • Sep. 2, 2022

For instance, book your tour in advance at Dogfish Head and check out the Sunday farmers market at Nassau Valley Vineyards.

From Washington Post • Apr. 4, 2019

Dogfish known as topes, twelve feet long and especially feared by divers, were racing with each other.

From Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Walter, F. P.