halibut
[ hal-uh-buht, hol- ]
/ ˈhæl ə bət, ˈhɒl- /
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noun, plural (especially collectively) hal·i·but, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) hal·i·buts.
either of two large flatfishes, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, of the North Atlantic, or H. stenolepis, of the North Pacific, used for food.
any of various other similar flatfishes.
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Also holibut.
Origin of halibut
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English halybutte, equivalent to haly (variant of holy) + butte “flat fish” (from Middle Dutch ); so called because eaten on holy days. Compare Dutch heilbot, German Heilbutt
Words nearby halibut
half Wellington, half-wit, half-witted, half-year, hali-, halibut, Haliç, Halicarnassian, Halicarnassus, halicot, halide
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for halibut
British Dictionary definitions for halibut
halibut
holibut (ˈhɒlɪbət)
/ (ˈhælɪbət) /
noun plural -buts or -but
the largest flatfish: a dark green North Atlantic species, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, that is a very important food fish: family Pleuronectidae
any of several similar and related flatfishes, such as Reinhardtius hippoglossoides (Greenland halibut)
Word Origin for halibut
C15: from hali holy (because it was eaten on holy days) + butte flat fish, from Middle Dutch butte
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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