red mullet

American  

noun

1. a goatfish or surmullet.

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red mullet British  

noun

1. US name: goatfish.  any of the marine percoid fishes constituting the family Mullidae , esp Mullus surmuletus , a food fish of European waters. They have a pair of long barbels beneath the chin and a reddish coloration

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Etymology

Origin of red mullet

First recorded in 1755–65

Example Sentences

Rock started photographing Bowie as the artist was forming his Ziggy Stardust persona: bright red mullet, with blood-red rouge and eye shadow and glittery gold lipstick.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2021

Stocks not covered by quotas, including red mullet, squid and most commercial shellfish, are particularly important to smaller UK vessels fishing close to the shoreline.

From BBC • Jul. 22, 2021

Gone are the days when he used to boast an abundant catch of red lobster, sea urchin and red mullet.

From Reuters • Jul. 9, 2019

But to be the first in those platform shoes and that red mullet since Mr. Bowie’s death in January, at the age of 69, added another layer of anxieties.

From New York Times • Mar. 20, 2016

Upon some occasions we purchased good red mullet, also a larger fish of the bass species; but there were only a few fishermen, who required an opposition to induce activity and moderate prices.

From Cyprus, as I Saw It in 1879 by Baker, Samuel White, Sir