perch

/pɜːtʃ/

perch

English Noun Top 19,726

Definition

Any of the three species of spiny-finned freshwater fish in the genus Perca.

Etymology

From Middle English perche, from Old French perche, from Latin perca, from Ancient Greek πέρκη (pérkē, “perch”), cognate with περκνός (perknós, “dark-spotted”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *perḱ-, whence also Old English forn (“trout”), German Forelle (“trout”).