fish

fish [fish]

n.

pl. fish; in referring to different species, fishes [ME < OE fisc, akin to Ger fisch, Du visch < IE base * pisk- > L piscis]

1. any of three classes (jawless, cartilaginous, and bony fishes) of coldblooded vertebrate animals living in water and having fins, permanent gills for breathing, and, usually, scales

2. loosely any animal living in water only, as a dolphin, crab, or oyster: often used in combination [shellfish, jellyfish]

3. the flesh of a fish used as food

4. Informal a person thought of as like a fish in being easily lured by bait, lacking intelligence or emotion, etc.

vi.

[OE fiscian]

1. to catch or try to catch fish, or shrimps, lobsters, etc.

2. to try to get something indirectly or by cunning: often with for

3. to grope: often with for

vt.

1. to catch or try to catch fish, shrimps, etc. in [to fish a stream]

2. to get by or as by fishing

3. to grope for, find, and bring to view: often with out or up [to fish a coin from one's pocket]

4. Naut. to pull (an old-fashioned anchor) to the gunwale, as from the cathead, preparatory to securing it

adj.

1. of fish or fishing

2. selling fish

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drink like a fish

to drink heavily, esp. alcoholic liquor

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fish in troubled waters

to try to gain something by taking advantage of a confused or troubled situation

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fish or cut bait

to proceed energetically with a task or give it up altogether

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fish out

to deplete the stock of fish in (a lake, etc.)

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like a fish out of water

out of one's element; in surroundings not suited to one

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neither fish, flesh, nor fowl

not belonging to a district or recognizable category or class: now often shortened to neither fish nor fowl

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other fish to fry

other, more important things to attend to

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the Fishes

Pisces, the constellation and twelfth sign of the zodiac

fishable

adj.

fishlike

adj.