flathead catfish
- noun
- /ˈflætˌhɛd ˈkætˌfɪʃ/
- US
- The distinctive head of the flathead catfish helps it hunt for prey on the riverbed.
- good for flathead catfish
Brendan, Jay, today we're going to be throwing noodles under the powerhouse dam in search for some giant Flathead catfish.
- Brendan, Jay, today we're going to be throwing noodles under the powerhouse dam in search for some giant Flathead catfish.
Examples
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The flathead catfish can grow to over 100 pounds in the wild.
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Anglers often target flathead catfish in rivers during the summer months.
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The flathead catfish is known for its unique appearance.
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Have you ever caught a flathead catfish before?
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Many anglers consider flathead catfish the best catch due to their size and fighting ability.
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The flathead catfish has a distinctive broad head, which makes it easy to identify in the water.
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On his fishing trip, Mike was thrilled to land a massive flathead catfish weighing over 50 pounds.
Synonyms
A large freshwater catfish with a flat head and a lower jaw that sticks out
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: a catfish characterized by a flattened head is exactly what 'flathead' + 'catfish' describes. This nominal compound follows a transparent, cross-linguistically common pattern (modifier + head noun), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the intended species description.
Etymology
Flathead catfish is named for how it looks: it has a very wide, flattened flathead and is a catfish with whiskers that hides and hunts on the river bottom. So the name points to the fish's 'flat head' and helps people recognize this species.