halibut
[ hal-uh-buh t, hol- ]
/ ˈhæl ə bət, ˈhɒl- /
noun, plural (especially collectively) hal·i·but, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) hal·i·buts.
either of two large flatfishes, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, of the North Atlantic, or H. stenolepis, of the North Pacific, used for food.
any of various other similar flatfishes.
Also
holibut.
Origin of halibut
1350–1400; Middle English
halybutte, equivalent to
haly (variant of
holy) +
butte flat fish (< MD); so called because eaten on holy days. Compare Dutch
heilbot, German
Heilbutt
Words nearby halibut
halftone,
halfway,
halfway house,
halfwit,
hali-,
halibut,
halicarnassian,
halicarnassus,
halicot,
halide,
halidom
Example sentences from the Web for halibut
British Dictionary definitions for halibut
halibut
holibut (ˈhɒlɪbət)
/ (ˈhælɪbət) /
noun plural -buts or -but
the largest flatfish: a dark green North Atlantic species, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, that is a very important food fish: family Pleuronectidae
any of several similar and related flatfishes, such as Reinhardtius hippoglossoides (Greenland halibut)
Word Origin for halibut
C15: from
hali
holy (because it was eaten on holy days) +
butte flat fish, from Middle Dutch
butte