butterfish

(-fis̸h′)

noun pl. butterfish, butterfishes

any of various fishes (esp. family Stromateidae) with a slippery, protective covering of mucus, as a gunnel

See butterfish in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. butterfish butterfish or but·ter·fish·es
  1. A marine food fish (Poronotus triacanthus) of the North American Atlantic coast, having a flattened body.
  2. Any of various similar or related fishes, such as the moonfish and gunnel.

Origin:

Origin: From its slippery mucous coating

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