hagfish

[ hag-fish ]
/ ˈhægˌfɪʃ /

noun, plural (especially collectively) hag·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) hag·fish·es.

any eellike, marine cyclostome of the order Myxiniformes, having undeveloped eyes, a barbel-rimmed, circular mouth, and horny teeth for boring into the flesh of fishes to feed on their interior parts.

Origin of hagfish

First recorded in 1605–15; hag1 + fish

Example sentences from the Web for hagfish

British Dictionary definitions for hagfish

hagfish
/ (ˈhæɡˌfɪʃ) /

noun plural -fish or -fishes

any eel-like marine cyclostome vertebrate of the family Myxinidae, having a round sucking mouth and feeding on the tissues of other animals and on dead organic material Often shortened to: hag