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The Collaborative International Dictionary
frostfish

Scabbard \Scab"bard\, n. [OE. scaubert, scauberk, OF. escaubers, escauberz, pl., scabbards, probably of German or Scan. origin; cf. Icel. sk[=a]lpr scabbard, and G. bergen to conceal. Cf. Hauberk.] The case in which the blade of a sword, dagger, etc., is kept; a sheath.

Nor in thy scabbard sheathe that famous blade.
--Fairfax.

Scabbard fish (Zo["o]l.), a long, compressed, silver-colored t[ae]nioid fish ( Lepidopus argyreus syn. Lepidopus caudatus), found on the European coasts, and more abundantly about New Zealand, where it is called frostfish and considered an excellent food fish.

frostfish

Tomcod \Tom"cod`\, n. [Tom (see Tomboy) + cod: cf. F. tacaud whiting pout, American Indian tacaud, literally, plenty fish.] (Zo["o]l.)

  1. A small edible American fish ( Microgadus tomcod) of the Codfish family, very abundant in autumn on the Atlantic coast of the Northen United States; -- called also frostfish. See Illust. under Frostfish.

  2. The kingfish. See Kingfish (a) .

  3. The jack. See 2d Jack, 8. (c) .

frostfish

cutlass fish \cutlass fish\, cutlassfish \cutlassfish\n. 1. (Zo["o]l.) a peculiar, long, thin, marine fish ( Trichiurus lepturus) of the southern United States and West Indies, having a long whiplike scaleless body and sharp daggerlike teeth; -- called also frostfish, saber fish, silver eel, and, improperly, swordfish; also, several related members of the genus Trichiurus. It is closely related to snake mackerel.

Syn: frost fish, frostfish, hairtail.

Wiktionary
frostfish

n. 1 The tomcod (so called because it is abundant on the New England coast in autumn at about the commencement of frost). 2 (context US dialect English) The smelt. 3 (context NZ English) The scabbardfish.

Usage examples of "frostfish".

October and November, however, are my fishiest months, for then the frostfish come up out of the ocean on nipping nights, lie down in any convenient spot and wait for hermits to bag them.