mahimahi
mahimahi Lexical Profile
mahimahi Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The firm, lean, mildly sweet flesh of the mahimahi, widely prized as seafood.
"We ordered grilled mahimahi topped with a fresh mango salsa for dinner."
A large, fast-swimming pelagic fish (Coryphaena hippurus) of the family Coryphaenidae, native to tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide and distinguished by a blunt head, a long single dorsal fin, and iridescent golden-green and blue coloring.
"The charter boat crew spotted a school of mahimahi swimming near a floating mat of seaweed."
Word Nuance & Usage
The Hawaiian name 'mahimahi' (or 'mahi-mahi') became the standard culinary term to avoid confusing consumers with aquatic mammals, since the fish is also traditionally called a 'dolphin' or 'dolphinfish' by anglers.
• Rhymes for mahimahi
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-20th century from Hawaiian mahimahi, a reduplication of mahi ('strong'), literally meaning 'very strong' in reference to the fish's vigorous fighting strength on a fishing line.