baitfish

American  

[beyt-fish] / ˈbeɪtˌfɪʃ /

noun

plural

baitfish,

plural

baitfishes

1. a small fish that is a source of food for a larger fish.

   Fishermen knew the presence of baitfish meant plenty of bass nearby.

2. Angling. any small fish, as a minnow or shiner, used as bait.

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Etymology

Origin of baitfish

bait + fish

Example Sentences

But for a humble baitfish, best known locally for the foul odor it emits when it’s rendered into meal, making its way to the presidential dinner table was a Cinderella moment.

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2024

Silvery schools of baitfish dart and shimmer around the structures, chased by sleek, fast-moving predators.

From Salon • Dec. 30, 2023

Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, Blue moved through downtown like a barracuda in a shoal of baitfish, dodging open car doors, nipping through gaps in traffic, gliding through intersections.

From Washington Post • Nov. 29, 2022

A pod of baitfish following the shadow of his boat.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2022

I turned away and found a perch on a pylon where a herring gull had been keeping watch but was now down among the baitfish, guzzling its lunch.

From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk