HALIBUT

halibut, holibut

(noun) marine food fish of the northern Atlantic or northern Pacific; the largest flatfish and one of the largest teleost fishes

halibut

(noun) lean flesh of very large flatfish of Atlantic or Pacific

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

halibut (plural halibuts or halibut)

A large flatfish of the genus Hippoglossus, which sometimes leaves the ocean floor and swims vertically.

Source: Wiktionary

Hal"i*but (;277), n. Etym: [OE. hali holy + but, butte, flounder; akin to D. bot, G. butte; cf. D. heilbot, G. heilbutt. So named as being eaten on holidays. See Holy, Holiday.] (Zoöl.)

Definition: A large, northern, marine flatfish (Hippoglossus vulgaris), of the family Pleuronectidæ. It often grows very large, weighing more than three hundred pounds. It is an important food fish. [Written also holibut.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition