halibut
halibut Lexical Profile
halibut Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large marine flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae, characterized by both eyes on the right side of the head, inhabiting the cold northern seas.
"The fishermen braved the icy waters of the North Pacific in hopes of catching a massive halibut."
The firm, white, mild-tasting flesh of this flatfish, commonly prepared as food.
"For dinner, the chef prepared a pan-seared halibut served over a bed of seasonal vegetables."
Word Nuance & Usage
The plural form is typically the same as the singular ('halibut') when referring to the fish collectively or as food, though 'halibuts' can be used when referring to multiple species.
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'halybutte', derived from 'haly' (holy) and 'butte' (flatfish), named so because it was traditionally eaten on Catholic holy days.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.