from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Garfish \Gar"fish`\, n. [See {Gar}, n.] (Zool.)
(a) A European marine fish ({Belone vulgaris}); -- called
also {gar}, {gerrick}, {greenback}, {greenbone},
{gorebill}, {hornfish}, {longnose}, {mackerel guide},
{sea needle}, and {sea pike}.
(b) One of several species of similar fishes of the genus
{Tylosurus}, of which one species ({T. marinus}) is
common on the Atlantic coast. {T. Caribb[ae]us}, a very
large species, and {T. crassus}, are more southern; --
called also {needlefish}. Many of the common names of the
European garfish are also applied to the American
species.
[1913 Webster]