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swordfish

[sawrd-fish, sohrd-]
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noun, plural sword·fish·es, (especially collectively) sword·fish for 1.
  1. a large, marine food fish, Xiphias gladius, having the upper jaw elongated into a swordlike structure.
  2. (initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Dorado.
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Origin of swordfish

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at sword, fish
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for swordfish

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • I've been turnin' out another school of swordfish and whales, too.

    Shavings

    Joseph C. Lincoln

  • You put in your fourteen cents and I'll put in the rest of the swordfish.

    Shavings

    Joseph C. Lincoln

  • But there are no more fish there, except Marlin swordfish in August and September.

  • These days were fruitful of the knowledge of swordfish that I had longed to earn.

  • Nor can you mistake a swordfish when he breaks, even though you only see the splash.

British Dictionary definitions for swordfish

swordfish

noun plural -fish or -fishes
  1. a large scombroid fish, Xiphias gladius, with a very long upper jaw: valued as a food and game fish: family Xiphiidae
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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

Word Origin and History for swordfish

n.

c.1400, from sword + fish (n.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper