mullet

mullet
mullet1
/mul"it/, n., pl. (esp. collectively) mullet, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) mullets.
1. any of several marine or freshwater, usually gray fishes of the family Mugilidae, having a nearly cylindrical body.
2. a goatfish.
3. a sucker, esp. of the genus Moxostoma.
[1400-50; late ME mulet < MF < L mullus red mullet; see -ET]
mullet2
/mul"it/, n. Heraldry.
a starlike charge having five points unless a greater number is specified, used esp. as the cadency mark of a third son.
Also, molet. Also called American star, Scottish star.
[1350-1400; ME molet < OF molete rowel of a spur, equiv. to mole millstone (F meule) + -ette -ETTE]

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Any of fewer than 100 species (family Mugilidae) of abundant, commercially valuable schooling fishes found in brackish or fresh waters throughout tropical and temperate regions.

Mullets frequent shallow, inshore areas, searching the sand or mud for microscopic plants and small animals. They are silvery and 1–3 ft (30–90 cm) long, with large scales, a short snout, a cigar-shaped body, a forked tail, and two distinct dorsal fins, the first containing four stiff spines. The common, or striped, mullet (Mugil cephalus), cultivated in some areas, is a well-known species found worldwide.

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fish
      any of the abundant, commercially valuable schooling fishes of the family Mugilidae (order Perciformes). Mullets number fewer than 100 species and are found throughout tropical and temperate regions.

      They generally inhabit salt water or brackish water and frequent shallow, inshore areas, commonly grubbing about in the sand or mud for microscopic plants, small animals, and other food. They are silvery fishes 30–90 cm (1–3 feet) long, with large scales; relatively stocky, cigar-shaped bodies; forked tails; and two distinct dorsal fins, the first containing four stiff spines. Many have strong, gizzard-like stomachs and long intestines capable of handling a largely vegetarian diet.

      The common, or striped, mullet (Mugil cephalus), cultivated in some areas because of its rapid growth rate, is a well-known species found worldwide. The red surmullet, also called red mullet, is an unrelated species of the goatfish family.

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  • mullet — [mul′it] n. pl. mullets or mullet [ME molet < OFr mulet, dim. < L mullus, red mullet < Gr myllos, kind of fish < ? IE base * mel : see MULE2] 1. any of a family (Mugilidae) of edible, spiny finned percoid fishes, both freshwater and… …   English World dictionary

  • Mullet — Mul let, n. [F. molette.] (Her.) A star, usually five pointed and pierced; when used as a difference it indicates the third son. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mullet — Mul let, n. [Cf. F. molet a sort of pinchers.] Small pinchers for curling the hair. [Obs.] B. Jonson. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • mullet — ► NOUN ▪ any of various chiefly marine fish that are widely caught for food. ORIGIN Greek mullos …   English terms dictionary

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  • mullet — {{11}}mullet (1) edible type of spiny finned fish, mid 15c., from Anglo Fr. molett (late 14c.), O.Fr. mulet, from M.L. muletus, from L. mulettus, from mullus red mullet, from Gk. myllos a marine fish, related to melos black, from PIE *mel of… …   Etymology dictionary

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