sheatfish

noun

sheat·​fish
ˈshētˌfish
: a large elongated catfish (Silurus glanis) of central and eastern European rivers that may attain a length of 10 feet and a weight of 400 pounds and that lacks an adipose fin and has the long anal nearly confluent with the caudal
broadly : any of several large catfishes

Word History

Etymology

alteration (perhaps influenced by German schaid sheatfish, from Old High German sceida sheatfish, sheath) of sheathfish

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Cite this Entry

“Sheatfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheatfish. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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