plaice

plaice
/plays/, n., pl. plaice.
1. a European flatfish, Pleuronectes platessa, used for food.
2. any of various American flatfishes or flounders.
[1250-1300; ME, var. of plais < OF < LL platessa flatfish < Gk platýs FLAT1, broad]

* * *

Commercially valuable European flatfish (Pleuronectes platessa).

At most 36 in. (90 cm) long, the plaice normally has both eyes on the right side of the head and four to seven bony bumps near its eyes. It is brown with red or orange spots. The American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides) is found in both Europe (where it is called the rough dab) and the U.S. It is reddish or brownish and grows to about 24 in. (60 cm) long.

Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa)

Jacques Six

* * *

▪ fish
 (Pleuronectes platessa), commercially valuable European flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae. The plaice, like others of its family, normally has both eyes on the right side of the head. It also has about four to seven bony bumps near its eyes. It reaches a maximum length of about 90 centimetres (36 inches) and is strikingly coloured, with red or orange spots on a brown background.

      Another North Atlantic member of the family Pleuronectidae is the American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides). It is found both in Europe, where it is called the rough dab, and in America. It is a reddish or brownish fish and grows to about 60 centimetres long.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Plaice — is the common name of four species of flatfishes:* Alaska plaice, Pleuronectes quadrituberculatus * American plaice, Hippoglossoides platessoides * European plaice, Pleuronectes platessa * Scale eye plaice, Acanthopsetta nadeshnyi Plaice can also …   Wikipedia

  • Plaice — Plaice, n. [F. plaise, plais, prob. fr. L. platessa flatish, plaice. See {Place}.] (Zo[ o]l.) (a) A European food fish ({Pleuronectes platessa}), allied to the flounder, and growing to the weight of eight or ten pounds or more. (b) A large… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • plaice — [pleıs] n plural plaice [U and C] a flat sea fish that is eaten …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • plaice — [plās] n. pl. plaice or plaices [ME plais < OFr plaïs < LL platessa, flatfish < Gr platys, broad: see PLATY ] any of various American and European flounders (esp. genera Pleuronectes and Hippoglossoides) …   English World dictionary

  • plaice — [ pleıs ] noun count a thin, flat brown sea fish with orange spots that lives in the northern half of the world a. uncount this fish eaten as food …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • plaice — late 13c., from O.Fr. plaise, from L.L. platessa, perhaps related to Gk. platys broad, or from the root of plat flat …   Etymology dictionary

  • plaice — ► NOUN (pl. same) ▪ a brown flatfish with orange spots, commercially important as a food fish. ORIGIN Old French plaiz, from Greek platus broad …   English terms dictionary

  • PLAICE — The PLAICE, or FLASH PLAICE, is a powerful open source hardware device, combining a flash memory programmer, in circuit emulation, and a high speed multi channel logic analyzer. It is built around a 32 bit RISC Microblaze processor, realized on a …   Wikipedia

  • plaice — [[t]ple͟ɪs[/t]] N VAR (plaice is both the singular and the plural form.) Plaice are a type of flat sea fish. N UNCOUNT Plaice is this fish eaten as food. ...a fillet of plaice with sautéd rice and vegetables …   English dictionary

  • Plaice — This interesting name has three known origins. The first being topographic from the residence near a fence of living wood with intertwining branches, deriving from the Olde French pleis or the latin plectere meaning to plait, weave or intertwine …   Surnames reference

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”