Etymology

blackfish

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Today it means: An Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, especially a female after spawning. Full definition →

First used 16th c.
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blackfish · noun, verb1

From black + fish.

blackfish · verb2

Blend of black + catfish (“(to create) a fake online profile”).

First known use, by meaning

  • from 16th c. An Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, especially a female after spawning.
  • from 17th c. Any of various dark-colored fish of the Old World, especially the rudderfish (Centrolophus niger).
  • from 17th c. The pilot whale (Globicephalus spp.).
  • from 17th c. The killer whale (Orcinus orca).
  • from 18th c. Either of two dark-colored fish of the west Atlantic, the tautog of New England (Tautoga onitis) and the black sea bass (Centropristis striata).
  • from 18th c. Any of various dark-colored fishes of Australasia, especially the luderick (Girella tricuspidata), and a freshwater fish, Gadopsis marmoratus.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.