tarpon

[ tahr-puh n ]
/ ˈtɑr pən /

noun, plural tar·pons, (especially collectively) tar·pon.

a large, powerful game fish, Megalops atlantica, inhabiting the warmer waters of the Atlantic Ocean, having a compressed body and large, silvery scales.

Origin of tarpon

1675–85; earlier tarpum, trapham, terbum, of uncertain origin; compare Dutch tarpoen; words in various Indian languages of Central America (Miskito tapam, Sumo tahpam, Rama tā́pum, Paya ta’pam) probably ultimately < English

Example sentences from the Web for tarpon

British Dictionary definitions for tarpon

tarpon
/ (ˈtɑːpən) /

noun plural -pons or -pon

a large silvery clupeoid game fish, Tarpon atlanticus, of warm Atlantic waters, having a compressed body covered with large scales: family Elopidae
Australian another name for ox-eye herring
any similar related fish

Word Origin for tarpon

C17: perhaps from Dutch tarpoen, of unknown origin