frostfish

Frostfish \Frost`fish"\, n. (Zool.)
      (a) The tomcod; -- so called because it is abundant on the
          New England coast in autumn at about the commencement
          of frost. See {Tomcod}.
      (b) The smelt. [Local, U. S.]
      (c) A name applied in New Zealand to the scabbard fish
          ({Lepidotus}) valued as a food fish.
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Scabbard \Scab"bard\, n. [OE. scaubert, scauberk, OF. escaubers,
   escauberz, pl., scabbards, probably of German or Scan.
   origin; cf. Icel. sk[=a]lpr scabbard, and G. bergen to
   conceal. Cf. {Hauberk}.]
   The case in which the blade of a sword, dagger, etc., is
   kept; a sheath.
   [1913 Webster]

         Nor in thy scabbard sheathe that famous blade.
                                                  --Fairfax.
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   {Scabbard fish} (Zool.), a long, compressed, silver-colored
      taenioid fish ({Lepidopus argyreus} syn. {Lepidopus
      caudatus}), found on the European coasts, and more
      abundantly about New Zealand, where it is called
      {frostfish} and considered an excellent food fish.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Tomcod \Tom"cod`\ (t[o^]m"k[o^]d`), n. [Tom (see {Tomboy}) +
   cod: cf. F. tacaud whiting pout, American Indian tacaud,
   literally, plenty fish.] (Zool.)
   (a) A small edible American fish ({Microgadus tomcod}) of the
       Codfish family, very abundant in autumn on the Atlantic
       coast of the Northen United States; -- called also
       {frostfish}. See Illust. under {Frostfish}.
   (b) The kingfish. See {Kingfish}
   (a) .
   (c) The jack. See 2d {Jack}, 8.
   (c) .
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cutlass fish \cutlass fish\, cutlassfish \cutlassfish\n.
   1. (Zool.) a peculiar, long, thin, marine fish ({Trichiurus
      lepturus}) of the southern United States and West Indies,
      having a long whiplike scaleless body and sharp daggerlike
      teeth; -- called also {frostfish}, {saber fish}, {silver
      eel}, and, improperly, {swordfish}; also, several related
      members of the genus {Trichiurus}. It is closely related
      to snake mackerel.

   Syn: frost fish, frostfish, hairtail.
        [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]