branzino

American  

[bron-zee-noh] / brɒnˈzi noʊ /

noun

plural

branzinos

1. a silvery sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, found in the eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea.

---

Etymology

Origin of branzino

First recorded in 1915–20; from Venetian Italian: literally, “sea bass,” from Venetian Italian brancin “claw”, from branza “spine, claw” (from the appearance of the operculum) + -ino -ine ¹ ( def. ). Further etymology is uncertain: branza may come from Classical Latin branchia branchia ( def. ), or from Vulgar Latin brancia (unattested) and may perhaps be related to Late Latin branca “paw”; branch ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does branzino compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• branzino vs. sea bass

Example Sentences

The dry-aged grilled branzino was flaky and beautifully cooked, but the standout was the chicken al pastor, served with a fresh pineapple salad and pineapple butter—bright, savory, and just a little indulgent.

From Salon

The whole crispy branzino is also worth ordering—it was perfectly flaky.

From Salon

Slow-roasted bone marrow, branzino laced with herbs, the kind of flavors that made us lean in and feed each other.

From Los Angeles Times

I often use branzino for this, but any whole fish weighing about a pound will cook in a similar timeframe.

From The Wall Street Journal

The fried branzino impressed, too, even if it was my least favorite dish; I’d still happily order it again.

From Salon