kingfish

American  

[king-fish] / ˈkɪŋˌfɪʃ /

noun

plural

kingfish,

plural

kingfishes

1. any of several marine food fishes of the drum family, especially of the genus Menticirrhus, found off the eastern coast of the United States.

2. Also called white croaker.  a marine food fish, Genyonemus lineatus, found off the Californian coast.

3. king mackerel.

4. a large game fish, Seriola grandis, found in Australia and New Zealand, closely related to the yellowtail.

5. any of various other fishes noted especially for their size.

6. Informal. a person regarded as a leader or authority.

   a kingfish in Democratic Party circles.

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kingfish British  

/ ˈkɪŋˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any marine sciaenid food and game fish of the genus Menticirrhus, occurring in warm American Atlantic coastal waters

2. another name for opah

3. any of various other large food fishes, esp the Spanish mackerel

4. Also called: haku.  a large food and game fish, Seriola lalandi lalandi , of New Zealand waters

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Etymology

Origin of kingfish

First recorded in 1740–50; king + fish

Example Sentences

At one of them, Cornelius Carrington, from the Freedom Fish House. fillets a kingfish with the speed and dexterity of a man who has spent many years with a fish knife in his hands.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2024

The website for the charter boat says customers can catch swordfish, bass and kingfish: “Charter fishing for the serious angler,” it says.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 21, 2022

“If the currents are right, we might see huge schools of horse-eye jacks, snappers, kingfish, tuna,” Navidad continued.

From Washington Post • Apr. 1, 2021

Red snapper, kingfish and cobia are in the culverts.

From Washington Times • Aug. 19, 2020

But as I fish for sailfish with a free-running reel, of course I am exasperated when a kingfish takes hold.

From Tales of Fishes by Grey, Zane

Related Words

• administrator
• captain
• chief
• commandant
• director
• head
• officer
• ruler