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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.


Etymology

Origin of baitfish

bait + fish

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

Even so, I’ve had a few real, startling sightings: an airborne shark here and there from beaches, a few fins flashing through schools of baitfish on the surface.

From Slate • Sep. 1, 2022

A pod of baitfish following the shadow of his boat.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2022

Just beyond the harbor, striped bass are feeding on baitfish in the shallows, making a noise my dad used to call “fish grenades.”

From "The Young Man and the Sea" by Rodman Philbrick

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