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fallfish

fallfish

1 9.6
A fairly large freshwater fish that lives in rivers and streams in eastern North America
  • noun
  • /ˈfɔːlˌfɪʃ/
  • US
: pez de otoño
  • The fallfish is known for its distinctive coloring.

Examples

  • The fallfish is often found in clear, fast-moving streams in the northeast United States.

  • Anglers enjoy catching fallfish because of their size and fighting spirit.

  • A large fallfish darted under the rocks as we approached the riverbank.

  • Many anglers enjoy catching fallfish during the summer.

  • The largest of New York's native minnows, fallfish can grow to be 17 inches in length.

  • Bright silver in color, smaller fallfish (under eight inches) are often confused with their relative, the common shiner.

  • Mature male fallfish will develop a pinkish tint to their heads during breeding season.

Surface Forms

fallfish singular
fallfishes plural

Morphology

fallfish = fall + fish (semi-transparent) = fall + fish

The components 'fall' and 'fish' are clear, but the term names a specific species so the precise biological sense is not fully predictable from its parts.

Etymology

The word fallfish is easy to remember because the first part fall can mean the 'season' or the 'waterfall', and this freshwater minnow is often seen in rivers and near small falls, so the name links the fish to streams and moving water.