Dictionary

frostfish en · NOUN

Etymology

From frost + fish. In the case of the tomcod, so called because it is abundant on the New England coast in autumn at about when frost comes.

Meanings

1. A tomcod (either species of Microgadus). ▸ Microgadus proximus
2. A tomcod (either species of Microgadus). ▸ Microgadus tomcod
3. Any member of the genus Benthodesmus cutlassfish
4. (US, dialectal, obsolete) A smelt.
5. (New-Zealand) A scabbardfish.
   • Another species of the renowned “frost fish,” but unlike the ordinary frost fish, it is of much greater length in proportion to depth. It well deserves its proper cognomen of the scabbard fish, its silver skin adding to the resemblance. 1886, Robert Caldwell Reid, Rambles on the Golden Coast of New Zealand, Chapter 20:

Forms

Hyponyms

Benthodesmus suluensis (Benthodesmus) · Benthodesmus elongatus (Benthodesmus) · Benthodesmus oligoradiatus (Benthodesmus) · Benthodesmus simonyi (Benthodesmus) · Benthodesmus macrophthalmus (Benthodesmus) · Benthodesmus tenuis (Benthodesmus) · Benthodesmus pacificus (Benthodesmus) · Benthodesmus tuckeri (Benthodesmus) · Benthodesmus neglectus (Benthodesmus) · Benthodesmus papua (Benthodesmus)

Synonyms

Pacific tomcod · Atlantic tomcod