billfish

[bil-fish]

noun

plural

billfish ,

plural

billfishes .

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

billfish

/ ˈbɪlˌfɪʃ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of billfish¹

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.

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By December, she was traveling to Guatemala to compete in a billfish tournament — and winning.

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“A dead billfish on the dock – in any country – brings very little value to anyone except those in poor nations who need it for protein,” Peel says.

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Adult tuna, billfish and dolphinfish are the target catch for the FADS, but juvenile fish, sharks and other species also can get caught up in the catch.

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In 1993, the government of the Bahamas banned longline fishing, which targets tuna and billfish but often snares sharks as bycatch.

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