swordfish

Definition

A large marine fish with a long, pointed bill, Xiphias gladius.

Etymology

From Middle English swerdfysche, from Old English *sweordfisċ. Equivalent to sword + fish.

Example Sentences

• "Then there came a reg'lar terror of a sou'wester same as you don't get one summer in a thousand, and blowed the shanty flat and ripped about half of the weir poles out of the sand. We spent consider'ble money getting 'em reset, and then a swordfish got into the pound and tore the nets all to slathers, right in the middle of the squiteague season."