sheepshead

American  

[sheeps-hed] / ˈʃipsˌhɛd /

noun

plural

sheepshead,

plural

sheepsheads

1. a deep-bodied, black-banded food fish, Archosargus probatocephalus, living along the Atlantic coast of the United States, chiefly around southwest Florida, and southward to Brazil.

2. a freshwater fish, the drum Aplodinotus grunniens, found throughout the eastern half of the United States and southward to Guatemala.

3. sheephead.

4. Also called schafskopf.  Cards. an earlier and simpler form of skat.

5. Obsolete. a foolish or stupid person.

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sheepshead British  

/ ˈʃiːpsˌhɛd /

noun

1. any of several sparid fishes with strong crushing teeth, esp Archosargus rhomboidalis, of the American Atlantic, which is marked with dark bands

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Etymology

Origin of sheepshead

First recorded in 1535–45; sheep + 's ¹ + head

Example Sentences

“Got him in without breaking the line; that’s not easy. This is a sheepshead, also called a convict fish—see the stripes?”

From Literature

Evans said he hopes some enterprising researchers will take a closer look in the mouth of the sheepshead fish.

From Seattle Times

It was identified as a sheepshead fish, which has several rows of molars for crushing prey.

From BBC

The fish has been identified as a sheepshead and according to experts, it’s perfectly normal for them to have teeth like this.

From Fox News

Redfish and sheepshead are plentiful along the rocks on the jetties with live shrimp.

From Washington Times