pigfish
pigfish Lexical Profile
pigfish Game Scores & Validity
• noun
American A marine species of grunt (Orthopristis chrysoptera) native to the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, recognized by its pale blue and bronze markings and the grunting sound it makes when removed from the water.
"The angler caught a small pigfish to use as live bait for a larger predatory species."
Australian Any of several brightly colored marine wrasses (genus Bodianus), found in the coastal waters of Australia and New Zealand, notable for their pointed snouts.
"While diving near the reef, she spotted a vibrant red pigfish darting among the coral heads."
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from 'pig' + 'fish', so named because of the grunting or chattering noise it produces by rubbing its pharyngeal teeth together when caught or distressed, reminiscent of a pig.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.