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definitions

sailfish

[seyl-fish]
noun, plural (especially collectively) sail·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) sail·fish·es.
  1. a large tropical and subtropical marine fish, Istiophorus platypterus, of the family Istiophoridae, distinguished by a long, high dorsal fin, long pelvic fins, and a double keel on each side of the tail.
  2. any of several related fishes having a high dorsal fin.

Origin of sailfish

First recorded in 1585–95; sail + fish
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for sailfish

Historical Examples of sailfish

  • Sailfish would jump around us for a while and then they would stop.

  • Still, we do not know much about sailfish or how to take them.

  • Sailfish had been caught occasionally at Long Key, during every season.

  • I never liked it, but with the sailfish I at least was not nervous about him attacking the boat.

  • I got hold of the leader and drew the sailfish close to the boat.

British Dictionary definitions for sailfish

sailfish

noun plural -fish or -fishes
  1. any of several large scombroid game fishes of the genus Istiophorus, such as I. albicans (Atlantic sailfish), of warm and tropical seas: family Istiophoridae. They have an elongated upper jaw and a long sail-like dorsal fin
  2. another name for basking shark
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012