blackfish n 1: large dark-colored food fish of the Atlantic coast of North America [syn: {tautog}, {blackfish}, {Tautoga onitis}] 2: female salmon that has recently spawned 3: small dark-colored whale of the Atlantic coast of the United States; the largest male acts as pilot or leader for the school [syn: {pilot whale}, {black whale}, {common blackfish}, {blackfish}, {Globicephala melaena}]
Sea bass \Sea" bass`\ . (Zool.) (a) A large marine food fish ({Serranus atrarius} syn. {Centropristis atrarius}) which abounds on the Atlantic coast of the United States. It is dark bluish, with black bands, and more or less varied with small white spots and blotches. Called also, locally, {blue bass}, {black sea bass}, {blackfish}, {bluefish}, and {black perch}. (b) A California food fish ({Cynoscion nobile}); -- called also {white sea bass}, and {sea salmon}. [1913 Webster]
Tautog \Tau*tog"\, n. [The pl. of taut, the American Indian name, translated by Roger Williams sheep's heads, and written by him tauta['u]og.] (Zool.) An edible labroid fish ({Haitula onitis}, or {Tautoga onitis}) of the Atlantic coast of the United States. When adult it is nearly black, more or less irregularly barred, with greenish gray. Called also {blackfish}, {oyster fish}, {salt-water chub}, and {moll}. [Written also {tautaug}.] [1913 Webster]
Blackfish \Black"fish\, n. 1. (Zool.) A small kind of whale, of the genus {Globicephalus}, of several species. The most common is {Globicephalus melas}. Also sometimes applied to other whales of larger size. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zool.) The tautog of New England ({Tautoga}). [1913 Webster] 3. (Zool.) The black sea bass ({Centropristis atrarius}) of the Atlantic coast. It is excellent food fish; -- locally called also {black Harry}. [1913 Webster] 4. (Zool.) A fish of southern Europe ({Centrolophus pompilus}) of the Mackerel family. [1913 Webster] 5. (Zool.) The female salmon in the spawning season. [1913 Webster] Note: The name is locally applied to other fishes. [1913 Webster]