from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Sunfish \Sun"fish`\, n. (Zool.)
(a) A very large oceanic plectognath fish ({Mola mola}, {Mola
rotunda}, or {Orthagoriscus mola}) having a broad body
and a truncated tail.
(b) Any one of numerous species of perch-like North American
fresh-water fishes of the family {Centrachidae}. They
have a broad, compressed body, and strong dorsal spines.
Among the common species of the Eastern United States are
{Lepomis gibbosus} (called also {bream}, {pondfish},
{pumpkin seed}, and {sunny}), the blue sunfish, or
dollardee ({Lepomis pallidus}), and the long-eared
sunfish ({Lepomis auritus}). Several of the species are
called also {pondfish}.
(c) The moonfish, or bluntnosed shiner.
(d) The opah.
(e) The basking, or liver, shark.
(f) Any large jellyfish.
[1913 Webster]