WHITEFISH

whitefish

(noun) silvery herring-like freshwater food fish of cold lakes of the northern hemisphere

whitefish

(noun) flesh of salmon-like or trout-like cold-water fish of cold lakes of the northern hemisphere

whitefish

(noun) any market fish--edible saltwater fish or shellfish--except herring

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

whitefish (plural whitefishes or whitefish)

Any of many fish.

Any of several North American freshwater fish, of the genus Coregonus, used as food.

Any of several other fish, such as whiting or menhaden.

(fisheries) Any of several species of demersal fish with fins, particularly cod, whiting, and haddock, as opposed to the oily or pelagic fishes.

The beluga (both the sturgeon and the whale)

Source: Wiktionary

White"fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of Coregonus, a genus of excellent food fishes allied to the salmons. They inhabit the lakes of the colder parts of North America, Asia, and Europe. The largest and most important American species (C. clupeiformis) is abundant in the Great Lakes, and in other lakes farther north. Called also lake whitefish, and Oswego bass. (b) The menhaden. (c) The beluga, or white whale.

Note: Various other fishes are locally called whitefish, as the silver salmon, the whiting (a), the yellowtail, and the young of the bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix).

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition