croaker

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

croaker
    n 1: the lean flesh of a saltwater fish caught along Atlantic
         coast of southern U.S.
    2: any of several fishes that make a croaking noise

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Sciaenoid \Sci*ae"noid\, a. [L. sciaena a kind of fish (fr. Gr.
   ?) + -oid.] (Zool.)
   Of or pertaining to the {Sciaenidae}, a family of carnivorous
   marine fishes which includes the meagre ({Sciaena umbra} or
   {Sciaena aquila}), and fish of the {drum} and {croaker}
   families. The {croaker} is so called because it may make a
   croaking noise by use of its bladder; the {Atlantic croaker}
   ({Micropogonias undulatus}, formerly {Micropogon undulatus})
   and the squeteague are a members of the croaker family, and
   the {kingfish} is a drum.
   [1913 Webster +PJC]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Croaker \Croak"er\ (-?r), n.
   1. One who croaks, murmurs, grumbles, or complains
      unreasonably; one who habitually forebodes evil.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Zool.)
      (a) A small American fish ({Micropogon undulatus}), of the
          Atlantic coast.
      (a) An American fresh-water fish ({Aplodinotus
          grunniens}); -- called also {drum}.
      (c) The surf fish of California.
          [1913 Webster]

   Note: When caught these fishes make a croaking sound; whence
         the name, which is often corrupted into crocus.