southern flounder
southern flounder Lexical Profile
• noun
American A large species of left-eyed flatfish (Paralichthys lethostigma) native to the coastal estuaries and shorelines of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, highly valued in both commercial and recreational fisheries.
"During the autumn migration, anglers along the Gulf Coast spend their nights gigging for Southern flounder in the shallow estuarine waters."
American The tender, mild-tasting white flesh of the Southern flounder, commonly served baked, fried, or stuffed in the regional cuisine of the coastal southern United States.
"The seaside restaurant is famous for its blackened Southern flounder, which is served fresh over a bed of stone-ground grits."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often confused with the closely related summer flounder and Gulf flounder, but primarily distinguished by the absence of prominent ocellated spots on its body.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from its primary geographic distribution in the coastal waters of the southern United States, combined with 'flounder', from the Anglo-Norman 'floundre' of Scandinavian origin.