Search Dictionary
Definition of lingcod
lingcod
/ˈlɪŋ.kɑːd/
ling · cod
Plural:lingcod
lingcod Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
10
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
lingcod Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
North American A large, bottom-dwelling marine fish (Ophiodon elongatus) of the greenling family, endemic to the North Pacific coast of North America and highly valued as both a food and sport fish.
Example
"The anglers chartered a boat out of the coastal harbor in hopes of catching a massive, beautifully mottled lingcod."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite its name, the lingcod is neither a true cod (family Gadidae) nor a true ling (genus Molva), but is instead a highly predatory member of the greenling family.
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'ling' and 'cod', coined by early European settlers to the Pacific Northwest due to the fish's superficial resemblance to both the European ling and the Atlantic cod.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lingcod. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lingcod