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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use halibut in a sentence

All I wanted was to eat some halibut at the bar and read a book on my phone, but the guy one stool over was determined to chat me up, no matter how many times I pointedly turned back to my reading.
Five Women. One Wilderness. Zero Mansplaining.|jversteegh|December 7, 2021|Outside Online
Plus, a chef keeps guests fueled with huevos rancheros in the morning and halibut tacos and just-baked cookies in the evenings.
The 25 Best Winter Trips in the World|jversteegh|October 15, 2021|Outside Online
Norway served a delectable North Atlantic halibut confit with smoked purée celeriac, sunchoke, and cured game meat.
Countries Face Off in D.C. Food Fight|William O’Connor|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In her TLC series on Alaska, we see Sarah the frontierswoman hunting, skeet-shooting, and beating a captured halibut to death.
Palin's 2012 Media Game|Howard Kurtz|November 28, 2010|DAILY BEAST

She says that the president had steak, the first lady had halibut.
My Martha's Vineyard Close Encounter|Patricia J. Williams|August 29, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Recipe Jean-Georges is a legend for many reasons: this halibut recipe is one of them.
Fresh Picks|David Myers|August 18, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Halibut, striped bass, and black bass are other good choices.
Salt Cod, Scampi, Filet of Grouper|The Daily Beast|December 23, 2008|DAILY BEAST
In the hills are coal and limestone, and along the shore is splendid cod, halibut, and salmon fishing.
Historic Adventures|Rupert S. Holland
I get codfish steaks or sometimes a little halibut; neither of those has any waste at all.
Living on a Little|Caroline French Benton
Cut large fish, such as salmon or halibut in thick pieces and tie in piece of cheesecloth.
The New Dr. Price Cookbook|Anonymous
Halibut may be dressed in the same manner, putting salt in the water when you boil it, and also in the seasoning.
Domestic French Cookery, 4th ed.|Sulpice Baru
Place fat in a frying pan, allow it to become hot, and sauté the halibut in this until well browned.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 3|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012