cunner
cunner Lexical Profile
cunner Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A small marine wrasse (Tautogolabrus adspersus) native to the western Atlantic coast of North America, commonly found around rocky shores and often caught for food or used as bait.
"The children spent the afternoon fishing off the rocky coastal pier, pulling up small crabs and the occasional cunner."
British A person who directs the steering of a ship; a conner or pilot.
"The cunner stood steadfast near the helm, shouting course corrections to guide the vessel through the treacherous shoals."
• Rhymes for cunner
Word Origin & Etymology
The name for the fish is of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a Native American language or an English dialect. The archaic nautical sense derives from the verb 'cun' (a variant of 'con', to direct the steering of a ship) combined with the suffix '-er'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.