sheepshead
sheepshead Lexical Profile
sheepshead Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A marine fish found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America, characterized by vertical black and white bands and distinctive human-like teeth used for crushing hard-shelled prey.
"The angler caught a large sheepshead near the pier piling, easily identifying it by its striped body and prominent teeth."
North American A silvery freshwater fish (the freshwater drum) found in lakes and rivers across North and Central America.
"While fishing for walleye in the river, we accidentally hooked a heavy sheepshead."
American A trick-taking card game of German origin, played with a stripped deck of 32 cards, particularly popular in Wisconsin and other parts of the American Midwest.
"Every Friday night, my grandparents would invite their neighbors over for a competitive game of sheepshead."
Word Nuance & Usage
The term typically refers to a coastal North American fish with human-like teeth, but in the American Midwest, it also denotes a popular traditional trick-taking card game.
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'sheep's' and 'head'. The fish was likely named for the resemblance of its frontal teeth and mouth to those of a sheep. The card game is a direct calque of the German card game 'Schafkopf'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.