white croaker
- noun
- US
:
pez croaker blanco
- During our fishing trip, we caught several white croaker, which were perfect for dinner.
Examples
-
Blue rockfish was the leading species from the combined areas, but was closely followed by Pacific sanddab, Citharichthys sordidus, and white croaker.
Academic text (1995) -
White croaker, the most abundant species in Santa Cruz, comprised less than 2% of the Monterey catch.
Academic text (1995) -
This is especially true for mackerel, bonito, and white croaker.
Academic text (1990) -
The greater proportion of white croaker and brown rockfish may be related to their greater tolerance for higher turbidity and water temperatures common in the more extensive shallow water zone near Capitola (Miller and Geibel, 1973).
Academic text (1995) -
The chef prepared grilled white croaker with lemon and herbs, making it a delicious seaside dish.
-
In California, many local restaurants serve white croaker as a popular seafood option.
Synonyms
A small silvery fish from the sea near California commonly called white croaker
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning ('a small, silvery marine fish') is directly derivable from 'white' (a color) + 'croaker' (a type of fish that croaks), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to a croaker that is white. This simple adjective+noun descriptive naming pattern is common and predictable in English (and cross-linguistically), making the expression readily understandable to B1 learners.
Etymology
White croaker gets its name from what people noticed: its pale color, the white, and a croak-like noise people heard from the fish, the croaker. So the name helps you remember it is a small, silvery sea fish often caught near the coast.
