billfish

American  

[bil-fish] / ˈbɪlˌfɪʃ /

noun

billfishes plural

1. any of various fishes having a long, sharp bill or snout, as a gar, needlefish, or saury.

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billfish British  

/ ˈbɪlˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any of various fishes having elongated jaws, esp any fish of the family Istiophoridae , such as the spearfish and marlin

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• billfishes
  plural
• billfish
  plural

Etymology

Origin of billfish

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85; bill ² + fish

Example Sentences

It could also clog the gills of commercial species that forage there, such as fish and shrimp, which are eaten by larger species like tuna and billfish.

From Scientific American • Aug. 15, 2023

In the mid-90s, Graves says there was little support for measures to help billfish.

From The Guardian • Aug. 10, 2020

West Hawaii Acting Battalion Chief John Whitman of Hawaii County's fire department said it was not the first time he had heard of billfish - which also include sailfish and marlin - fatally impaling someone.

From BBC • May 31, 2015

West Hawaii Acting Battalion Chief John Whitman says witnesses reported that a man in his 40s jumped from a Kailua-Kona pier Friday in an attempt to catch a billfish, likely a marlin.

From Washington Times • May 29, 2015

Flyfishing for billfish is not an individual sport, but one that requires the captain, mates and angler to work as a team.

From Time Magazine Archive