The Collaborative International Dictionary
Hippoglossus vulgaris
Halibut \Hal"i*but\ (h[o^]l"[i^]*b[u^]t; 277), n. [OE. hali holy + but, butte, flounder; akin to D. bot, G. butte; cf. D. heilbot, G. heilbutt. So named as being eaten on holidays. See Holy, Holiday.] (Zo["o]l.) A large, northern, marine flatfish ( Hippoglossus vulgaris), of the family Pleuronectid[ae]. It often grows very large, weighing more than three hundred pounds. It is an important food fish. [Written also holibut.]