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billfish

billfish

1 7.5
Large fish that eat other fish and have a long pointed jaw like marlin or swordfish
  • noun
  • /ˈbɪlˌfɪʃ/
translation icon : pez de pico
  • Many anglers dream of reeling in a large billfish during their fishing trips.
  • billfish anglers
  • billfish tournaments
  • billfish trip

Examples

  • Results support the decision to reserve billfish for the recreational fishery.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Most supported larger minimum sizes for billfish and larger minimum sizes for tournament-caught fish.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Current U.S. management efforts are a step in the right direction toward billfish conservation.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Without adequate conservation measures for billfish, these benefits could be reduced or lost.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Also, better social and economic information was expected to expand constituency support for billfish conservation.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Most (52%) reported fishing for billfish for more than 11 years (X=14 years).

    Academic text (1992)

  • The average amount spent annually on billfish tournament fees was $1,856, or $546 per tournament.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Tournaments accounted for only 25% of the annual billfish landings for this group of anglers.

    Academic text (1992)

  • A survey of billfish anglers is difficult because the population of billfish anglers is not readily identifiable.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Billfish tournament anglers spent an estimated $179,425,000 in pursuit of billfish (tournament and nontournament trips).

    Academic text (1992)

Synonyms

swordfish
vsbillfish
8 2.3

A large sea fish with a long flat bill like a sword that swims fast

is the broader category including this species and other long-jawed predators
sailfish
vsbillfish
2 6.1

A large fast sea fish with a long pointed bill and a tall sail-like fin

is the broader group including this species and other long-billed predators
spearfish
vsbillfish
1 9.7

A large fast ocean fish with a long pointed bill like a marlin

is the general group that includes this uncommon related species
Atlantic sailfish
vsbillfish
8.1

A large fast fish in the Atlantic Ocean that has a long pointed bill and a tall sail-like fin

is the general group covering this species and similar long-billed fish
Istiophoridae
vsbillfish
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of large sea fish like marlin and sailfish with long spear-like bills

is the common name used for similar large predatory long-billed fish

Surface Forms

billfish singular
billfishes plural

Morphology

billfish = bill + fish (transparent) = bill + fish

Meaning is directly the combination of 'bill' and 'fish' — a fish with a long pointed bill.

Etymology

Billfish comes from the simple parts bill ('beak' or 'long pointed jaw') and fish, so it literally means a 'fish with a beak'. That's why marlin, sailfish, and swordfish are called billfish — they have long, sharp jaws that look like a bird's beak.