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Glite Dictionary
oarfish

oarfish

1 9.9
A very long fish that lives deep in the sea and has a red back fin
  • noun
  • /ˈɔːrˌfɪʃ/
translation icon : pez remo
  • A team of researchers recently studied an oarfish that was found stranded on the beach.

Examples

  • The oarfish is rarely seen by humans because it lives at great ocean depths.

  • Many myths about sea serpents may be based on sightings of the elusive oarfish.

  • Scientists were excited when a giant oarfish washed ashore on the Californian coast.

  • The oarfish is known for its incredible length.

  • Have you ever seen an oarfish in the ocean?

  • The oarfish can reach lengths of up to 50 feet, making it one of the longest fish in the ocean.

  • Locals were fascinated when a 20-foot oarfish was spotted swimming off the coast during a dive.

Synonyms

Regalecus glesne
vsoarfish
  • Specialized
9.9

A very long thin deep water fish with a red fin on its back

is the common label used instead of the formal species name
king of the herring
vsoarfish
  • UK
9.9

A very large thin fish from deep water with a long body and a bright red fin

is the standard term rather than the descriptive nickname
ribbonfish
vsoarfish
  • Specialized
9.1

A long fish that lives in deep warm and cool seas with a thin shiny body

is a far larger species with red dorsal fin and 20 to 30 foot length

How Long

oarfish
1 9.9
whale shark
6 3.5
mackerel
9 3.3
sardine
60 1.3

Surface Forms

oarfish singular
oarfishes plural

Morphology

oarfish = oar + fish (transparent) = oar + fish

A straightforward compound 'oar' + 'fish' referring to a fish with an oar-like shape; learners who know both components can infer the general idea.

Etymology

Oarfish comes from the simple parts oar and fish, because people thought its very long, flat body and long red fin look like a giant 'oar' or 'paddle'. So oarfish is an easy name to remember for a deep-sea fish that is very long and narrow.