groper

¹ American  

[groh-per] / ˈgroʊ pər /

noun

1. a large, purplish food fish, Achoerodus gouldii, inhabiting waters off Australia and New Zealand, characterized by an enormous gape.

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groper ² American  

[groh-per] / ˈgroʊ pər /

noun

1. a person or thing that gropes.

2. Slang. a person who touches or fondles someone for sexual pleasure, especially without the person’s consent.

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groper British  

/ ˈɡrəʊpə /

noun

1. Also called: garoupa.  any large marine serranid fish of the genus Epinephelus and related genera, of warm and tropical seas

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Etymology

Origin of groper¹

Apparently alteration of grouper ¹, perhaps by association with grope

Origin of groper¹

First recorded in 1560–70; grope + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Blueback is the name of the groper that is a symbol of the bay's wildlife that is endangered by predatory developers.

From Salon

He is this beautiful blue groper.

From Salon

"You have this charming lead character, who is not any of the humans in the story. He is this beautiful blue groper. He is not an animated fictious Disney character."

From Salon

Abby also befriends Blueback – a big-mouthed Australian fish known as a groper that lives in the water – and tries to protect him from danger.

From Salon

Consider the western blue groper the St. Bernard of Australia’s southern coast, a heavy, friendly fish game to frolic with swimmers if fed the right treats.

From New York Times