oarfish

[awr-fish, ohr-]

noun

plural

oarfish ,

plural

oarfishes .

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).

oarfish

/ ˈɔːˌfɪʃ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of oarfish¹

First recorded in 1855–60; oar + fish

Word History and Origins

Origin of oarfish¹

C19: referring to the flattened oarlike body

Example Sentences

The oarfish has long been referred to as a doomsday fish, a reference that likely stems from Japanese folklore, which considered spotting such a fish a bad omen of natural disasters.

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Every time an oarfish makes an appearance on the sand, it’s a spectacle for scientists as well as the general public for several reasons.

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Anyone in Southern California interested in seeing one up close can visit the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where an oarfish found in Catalina Island is on display.

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What caused the diesel electric-powered submarine to plummet to such depths, below where giant octopi and oarfish tend to roam, is unclear.

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Who wouldn't think, for example, that the giant oarfish, the longest bony fish in the world was some kind serpent?

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