kingfish
kingfish Lexical Profile
kingfish Game Scores & Validity
• noun
American A large, popular marine game and food fish, particularly the king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla), found in the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
"The anglers chartered a boat to go trolling for kingfish off the coast of Florida."
Australian A large, hard-fighting pelagic fish, specifically the yellowtail amberjack (Seriola lalandi), highly prized by anglers in the waters around Australia and New Zealand.
"He wrestled with a massive yellowtail kingfish for over an hour before finally landing it on the deck."
An informal term for a person holding chief power, authority, or prominent influence within a particular group, organization, or region.
"As the undisputed kingfish of the local political machine, his endorsement virtually guaranteed an election victory."
• Rhymes for kingfish
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the early 17th century, formed as a compound of 'king' and 'fish', likely due to the impressive size, fighting ability, or culinary value of the species. It was famously used as a political moniker for Louisiana governor Huey P. Long in the 1930s.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.