frostfish
nounEtymology From frost + fish. In the case of the tomcod, so called because it is abundant on the New England coast in autumn at about when frost comes.
› A tomcod (either species of Microgadus).
1
Microgadus proximus
2
Microgadus tomcod
3
Any of genus Benthodesmus cutlassfish
5
New Zealand A scabbardfish.
- Another species of the renowned “frost fish,” but unlike the ordinary frost fish, it is of much greater length in proportion to depth. It well deserves its proper cognomen of the scabbard fish, its silver skin adding to the resemblance.1886, Robert Caldwell Reid, Rambles on the Golden Coast of New Zealand, Chapter 20:
- Hyponyms
- Benthodesmus elongatus, Benthodesmus macrophthalmus, Benthodesmus neglectus, Benthodesmus oligoradiatus, Benthodesmus pacificus, Benthodesmus papua, Benthodesmus simonyi, Benthodesmus suluensis, Benthodesmus tenuis, Benthodesmus tuckeri