croaker

American  

[kroh-ker] / ˈkroʊ kər /

noun

1. a person or thing that croaks.

2. any of several sciaenoid fishes that make a croaking noise, especially Micropogonias undulatus Atlantic croaker, found off the Atlantic coast of the southern United States.

3. a person who grumbles or forebodes evil.

4. Slang. doctor.

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croaker British  

/ ˈkrəʊkə /

noun

1. an animal, bird, etc, that croaks

2. any of various mainly tropical marine sciaenid fishes, such as Umbrina roncador ( yellowfin croaker ), that utter croaking noises

3. a grumbling person

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Etymology

Origin of croaker

First recorded in 1630–40; croak + -er ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

croaker

Our local host narrated what followed with the ease of a docent: yellow croaker steamed in fragrant rice wine and a whole fruitwood-roasted duck, brought out intact before being carved three ways tableside.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

When he's not in the forest looking for honey, Suheri breeds croaker fish but the eggs are expensive and there is a high chance they will die.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2023

But as the sun set along the causeway Thursday, more people were fishing for sand perch and croaker than had shown up to the support the former president.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 30, 2023

The fresh croaker wrapped in a lettuce leaf deserves an award.

From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2022

“So what says the croaker? Did you sort out the horse?” he asks jovially, coming to a stop in front of me.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

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