sunfish
sunfish Lexical Profile
sunfish Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American Any of various small, often brightly colored freshwater fishes of the family Centrarchidae native to North America, popular among recreational anglers.
"The children spent the afternoon fishing off the dock, catching several small sunfish and immediately releasing them back into the lake."
A massive, unusually shaped marine fish of the family Molidae, characterized by a laterally compressed body, the lack of a true tail, and a tendency to bask near the ocean surface.
"During our deep-sea excursion, we spotted a gigantic oceanic sunfish floating lazily near the surface of the water."
A small, light, flat-bottomed sailboat designed for one or two people, originally popularized as a recreational beach craft.
"They rented a sunfish to sail across the calm bay on a breezy Sunday afternoon."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'sunne' (sun) and 'fisch' (fish). The name likely derives from the habit of both the marine and freshwater species to bask in the sunlight near the water's surface.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.