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Definition of rudderfish

rudderfish

/ˈrʌd.ər.fɪʃ/
rud · der · fish
Plural:rudderfishes
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rudderfish Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any of various marine fishes, particularly those in the families Kyphosidae (sea chubs) and Centrolophidae (medusafishes), known for their habit of following ships and congregating near their rudders or trailing beneath floating debris.

Example

"The crew watched a small school of banded rudderfish trailing in the wake of the stern as they sailed through the warm Gulf waters."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for rudderfish

• Nearby Words

rudbeckia
rudd
rudder
rudderfish
rudice
rudice falls
rue

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'rudder' and 'fish', named in the mid-19th century due to the characteristic behavior of these fishes following the rudders of ships or lingering under floating wreckage.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Rudderfish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/rudderfish
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