pinfish

American  

[pin-fish] / ˈpɪnˌfɪʃ /

noun

pinfishes, plural pinfish plural

1. a small fish, Lagodon rhomboides, of the porgy family, inhabiting bays of the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States.

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pinfish British  

/ ˈpɪnˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. Also called: sailor's choice.  a small porgy, Lagodon rhomboides, occurring off the SE North American coast of the Atlantic

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• pinfish
  plural
• pinfishes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pinfish

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; pin + fish

Example Sentences

While he was fishing one day at age 7, the fin of a spiny pinfish scratched his right eye, permanently impairing his distance vision and depth perception.

From Washington Post • Dec. 27, 2021

Tarpon are very good on mullet or pinfish.

From Washington Times • Oct. 23, 2019

Mahi mahi is good on squid or live cigar minnow, Tuna Is good on squid, Tarpon is very good on mullet or pinfish, Flounder is good on live bait.

From Washington Times • Oct. 9, 2019

Twitchbaits and jigs will catch plenty of fish, but live or dead pinfish will score big every time.

From Time Magazine Archive

Tyson puts an eight-ounce sinker on 30-pound test and then a live pinfish hooked through the mouth about 12 feet below it.

From Time Magazine Archive