billfish

billfish
/bil"fish'/, n., pl. (esp. collectively) billfish, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) billfishes.
any of various fishes having a long, sharp bill or snout, as a gar, needlefish, or saury.
[1775-85, Amer.; BILL2 + FISH]

* * *

Any of several long-jawed fishes, especially those in the family Istiophoridae, including marlins, spearfishes, and sailfishes.

The name is also applied to the gar, needlefish, and sauries (family Scomberesocidae), as well as to the swordfish (family Xiphiidae).

* * *

      any of a group of long-jawed fishes (usually swordfish, marlin, and allies) that sometimes includes the marine gar (q.v.).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • billfish — ☆ billfish [bil′fish΄ ] n. pl. billfish or billfishes (see FISH) any of various fishes with long, narrow jaws that resemble a beak, as many gars or swordfish; esp., any of a family (Istiophoridae) of percoid fishes, as the marlin …   English World dictionary

  • Billfish — Bill fish (b[i^]l f[i^]sh ), n. (Zo[ o]l.) A name applied to several distinct fishes: (a) The garfish ({Tylosurus longirostris}, or {Belone longirostris}) and allied species. (b) The saury, a slender fish of the Atlantic coast ({Scomberesox… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Billfish — The term billfish is applied to a number of different large, predatory fish characterised by their large size (swordfish can be over 4 metres long) and their long, sword like bill. Billfish include the sailfish and marlin, which make up the… …   Wikipedia

  • billfish — Saury Sau ry, n.; pl. {Sauries}. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zo[ o]l.) A slender marine fish ({Scomberesox saurus}) of Europe and America. It has long, thin, beaklike jaws. Called also {billfish}, {gowdnook}, {gawnook}, {skipper}, {skipjack},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • billfish — /ˈbɪlfɪʃ/ (say bilfish) noun (plural billfish or billfishes) any of various large game fish as the marlin, or the sailfish, in which the upper jaw projects in a long spear like process. Usage: For variation in the plural inflection, see note at… …  

  • billfish — dėmėtoji kaimanžuvė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Lepisosteus oculatus angl. billfish; short nosed gar; spotted gar rus. пятнистая панцирная щука ryšiai: platesnis terminas – ilgasnukės kaimanžuvės …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • billfish — ilgasnukė kaimanžuvė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Lepisosteus osseus angl. billfish; common; garpike; long nosed gar rus. длиннорылый панцирник ryšiai: platesnis terminas – ilgasnukės kaimanžuvės …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • billfish — noun Date: 1782 a fish with long slender jaws; especially any of various bony fishes (families Istiophoridae and Xiphiidae) with an elongated tapering upper jaw including marlins, spearfishes, and sailfishes …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • billfish — Marlins, sailfish, spearfish and swordfish; that is, where the snout is extended into a bill or spear …   Fisheries — dictionary

  • billfish — a general term for those fishes having a bill, e.g. swordfishes, Xiphiidae …   Dictionary of ichthyology

Share the article and excerpts

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