oarfish

American  

[awr-fish, ohr-] / ˈɔrˌfɪʃ, ˈoʊr- /

noun

oarfish, plural oarfishes plural

1. any long, ribbon-shaped, silvery fish of the genus Regalecus, of deep tropical waters, having a red dorsal fin along the spine that rises to a crest, and reaching a length of 30 feet (9 meters).

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oarfish British  

/ ˈɔːˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. Also called: king of the herrings.  a very long ribbonfish, Regalecus glesne, with long slender ventral fins

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• oarfish
  plural
• oarfishes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of oarfish

First recorded in 1855–60; oar + fish

Example Sentences

When a group of kayakers and snorkelers came across a dead oarfish at La Jolla Cove, they immediately notified officials about their find, helping bring the lifeless 12-foot-long rare fish onshore for future research.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2024

With its long eel-like body, gaping mouth and bright red dorsal fins, it’s no surprise that the oarfish calls to mind a sea monster.

From Slate • Nov. 22, 2024

The latest was on Nov. 6, when an oarfish was discovered at Grandview Beach by Alison Laferriere, a doctoral candidate at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2024

It’s rare to see an oarfish up close in California; only 22 have washed ashore since 1901, according to UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2024

“In the two years prior to the disaster, about a dozen oarfish washed up in Japan, most hundreds of miles away from this area.” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2024