oldwife

oldwife
/old"wuyf'/, n., pl. oldwives.
1. any of various fishes, as the alewife, the menhaden, or a West Indian fish of the family Balistidae.
2. See old squaw.
[1580-90; OLD + WIFE]

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  • oldwife — n. 1. (Zo[ o]l.) The local name of various fishes, as the European black sea bream ({Cantharus lineatus}), the American alewife, etc. [WordNet 1.5] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) A tropical Atlantic fish ({Bessy cerca}). [WordNet sense 1] Syn: queen triggerfish,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • oldwife — [ōld′wīf΄] n. pl. oldwives [ōld′wīvz΄] 1. Archaic an old woman ☆ 2. OLDSQUAW 3. any of various sea fishes …   English World dictionary

  • Oldwife — Taxobox name = Oldwife regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Perciformes familia = Enoplosidae genus = Enoplosus genus authority = Lacépède, 1802 species = E. armatus binomial = Enoplosus armatus binomial authority …   Wikipedia

  • oldwife — Old Old, a. [Compar. {Older}; superl. {Oldest}.] [OE. old, ald, AS. ald, eald; akin to D. oud, OS. ald, OFries. ald, old, G. alt, Goth. alpeis, and also to Goth. alan to grow up, Icel. ala to bear, produce, bring up, L. alere to nourish. Cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • oldwife — noun Date: 1588 1. any of several marine fishes (as an alewife, menhaden, or triggerfish) 2. old squaw …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • oldwife — old•wife [[t]ˈɒldˌwaɪf[/t]] n. pl. wives 1) ich any of various fishes, as the alewife or menhaden 2) orn old squaw • Etymology: 1580–90 …   From formal English to slang

  • oldwife — /oʊldˈwaɪf/ (say ohld wuyf) noun (plural oldwives) 1. any of various fishes as the Australian Enoplosus armatus, the European black sea bream, Cantharus lineatus, or the menhaden of the eastern coast of the US. 2. → old squaw …  

  • oldwife — noun 1. tropical Atlantic fish • Syn: ↑queen triggerfish, ↑Bessy cerca, ↑oldwench, ↑Balistes vetula • Hypernyms: ↑triggerfish • Member Holonyms: ↑Balistes, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • black oldwife — noun : a plectognath fish of the genus Melichthys; especially : galafate …   Useful english dictionary

  • Balistes vetula — oldwife oldwife n. 1. (Zo[ o]l.) The local name of various fishes, as the European black sea bream ({Cantharus lineatus}), the American alewife, etc. [WordNet 1.5] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) A tropical Atlantic fish ({Bessy cerca}). [WordNet sense 1] Syn:… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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