ribbonfish

American  

[rib-uhn-fish] / ˈrɪb ənˌfɪʃ /

noun

ribbonfish, plural ribbonfishes plural

1. any of several marine fishes of the families Trachipteridae, Regalicidae, and Lophotidae, having a long, compressed, ribbonlike body.

2. any of several related fishes, as the oarfish.

3. any of several unrelated but similar fishes, as the cutlassfish and jackknife-fish.

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ribbonfish British  

/ ˈrɪbənˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any of various soft-finned deep-sea teleost fishes, esp Regalecus glesne (see oarfish ), that have an elongated compressed body. They are related to the opah and dealfishes

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• ribbonfish
  plural
• ribbonfishes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ribbonfish

First recorded in 1785–95; ribbon + fish

Example Sentences

He said he’d shared the image with an ichthyologist who had identified it as a juvenile king-of-the-salmon, scientifically known as Trachipterus altivelis, which is part of the ribbonfish family.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 15, 2026

Workman fishes his ribbonfish and live baits on Penn Dave Workman, Jr., kingfish rods matched to 6:1-retrieve, graphite-frame Penn 545 reels.

From Time Magazine Archive

Try adding a ribbonfish � and a new dimension � to your trolling spread and see if a king mackerel or other game fish comes calling.

From Time Magazine Archive

He pays strict attention to how he selects, rigs and incorporates ribbonfish into his live-bait spread.

From Time Magazine Archive

He makes sure the ribbonfish have been well brined, to draw out moisture and toughen them up, and frozen in vacuum-sealed bags.

From Time Magazine Archive