mahi-mahi
mahi-mahi Lexical Profile
• noun
The firm, mildly sweet flesh of the mahi-mahi fish, typically prepared by grilling, baking, or blackening.
"The chef prepared a blackened mahi-mahi served over a bed of mango salsa and coconut rice."
A brightly colored, surface-dwelling marine fish found in temperate, tropical, and subtropical waters worldwide, highly valued as both a game fish and a commercial food source.
"During our deep-sea fishing trip off the coast of Florida, we managed to catch a massive mahi-mahi."
Word Nuance & Usage
The name 'mahi-mahi' is heavily favored on restaurant menus over its alternative name, 'dolphinfish', to prevent consumers from mistakenly thinking they are eating dolphin (a marine mammal).
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Hawaiian 'mahi-mahi', meaning 'very strong', derived from the reduplication of 'mahi' (strong), reflecting the fish's power and speed in the water.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.