catfish

/ˌkætˈfɪʃ/

/ˈkætfɪʃ/

Other forms: catfishes

Definitions of catfish

1. noun

   any of numerous mostly freshwater bottom-living fishes of Eurasia and North America with barbels like whiskers around the mouth
   synonyms: siluriform fish

   types:

   silurid, silurid fish

   Old World freshwater catfishes having naked skin and a long anal fin more or less merged with the eellike caudal fin

   bullhead, bullhead catfish

   any of several common freshwater catfishes of the United States

   Ictalurus punctatus, channel cat, channel catfish

   freshwater food fish common throughout central United States

   Pylodictus olivaris, flathead catfish, goujon, mudcat, shovelnose catfish, spoonbill catfish

   large catfish of central United States having a flattened head and projecting jaw

   armored catfish

   South American catfish having the body covered with bony plates

   sea catfish

   any of numerous marine fishes most of which are mouthbreeders; not used for food

   European catfish, Silurus glanis, sheatfish

   large elongated catfish of central and eastern Europe

   Malopterurus electricus, electric catfish

   freshwater catfish of the Nile and tropical central Africa having an electric organ

   Ameiurus Melas, horned pout, hornpout, pout

   catfish common in eastern United States

   brown bullhead

   freshwater catfish of eastern United States

   blue cat, blue catfish, blue channel cat, blue channel catfish

   a large catfish of the Mississippi valley

   crucifix fish

   sea catfish of the Caribbean area

   type of:

   malacopterygian, soft-finned fish

   any fish of the superorder Malacopterygii
2. noun

   flesh of scaleless food fish of the southern United States; often farmed
   synonyms: mudcat

   type of:

   freshwater fish

   flesh of fish from fresh water used as food
3. noun

   large ferocious northern deep-sea food fishes with strong teeth and no pelvic fins
   synonyms: wolf fish, wolffish

   type of:

   blennioid, blennioid fish

   elongated mostly scaleless marine fishes with large pectoral fins and reduced pelvic fins