ventral fin

American  

noun

1. pelvic fin.

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ventral fin British  

noun

1. another name for pelvic fin

2. any unpaired median fin situated on the undersurface of fishes and some other aquatic vertebrates

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Etymology

Origin of ventral fin

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

All Chinook must be adipose and/or ventral fin clipped to be retained.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 29, 2012

There is a species of carp with red ventral fin, which is caught and used in very large quantities: it is called "pumbo."

From The Last Journals of David Livingstone, in Central Africa, from 1865 to His Death, Volume II (of 2), 1869-1873 Continued By A Narrative Of His Last Moments And Sufferings, Obtained From His Faithful Servants Chuma And Susi by Waller, Horace

Its ventral fin is peculiar, being unusually large, and of a circular shape, like boys’ playthings called “suckers.”

From A Popular Account of Dr. Livingstone's Expedition to the Zambesi and its tributaries And of the Discovery of Lakes Shirwa and Nyassa, 1858-1864 by Livingstone, David

Destitute of the ventral fin, as the eels.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah

The ventral fin which is uppermost as the fish lies on its side and is not to show, should be carefully cut off outside the skin.

From Home Taxidermy for Pleasure and Profit A Guide for Those Who Wish to Prepare and Mount Animals, Birds, Fish, Reptiles, etc., for Home, Den, or Office Decoration by Farnham, Albert B.