sawfish

American  

[saw-fish] / ˈsɔˌfɪʃ /

noun

sawfish, plural sawfishes plural

1. a large, elongated ray of the genus Pristis, living along tropical coasts and lowland rivers, with a bladelike snout bearing strong teeth on each side.

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sawfish British  

/ ˈsɔːˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any sharklike ray of the family Pristidae of subtropical coastal waters and estuaries, having a serrated bladelike mouth

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sawfish
  plural
• sawfishes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sawfish

First recorded in 1655–65; saw ¹ + fish

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sawfish sawfishes

Seagrasses provide shelters, nurseries, and feeding grounds for thousands of species, including endangered animals such as dugongs, stalked jellyfish and smalltooth sawfish.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 28, 2025

Then, in January, the mysterious ailment began afflicting smalltooth sawfish, a type of large, prehistoric-looking ray named for the look of its long snout lined with sharp teeth.

From New York Times ● Apr. 15, 2024

It’s more difficult to rehabilitate an animal like a sawfish than it is for an air-breathing marine creature, such as a dolphin or manatee, officials say.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 12, 2024

To find out, she and colleagues examined 17 genomes from various species of sharks, skates, and sawfish.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 12, 2023

It was soon after this close shave with the sawfish that Little Sword came once more across the path of the Inkmaker.

From Children of the Wild by Roberts, Charles George Douglas, Sir

Seeing this, the sawfishes soon abandoned the attempt and with growls and roars of disappointment swam away and were quickly out of sight.

From The Sea Fairies by Baum, L. Frank (Lyman Frank)

"Keep together, friends, and be careful not to separate, for here comes an army of sawfishes."

From The Sea Fairies by Baum, L. Frank (Lyman Frank)