Etymology

yellowback

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Today it means: Any member of species Sciades parkeri of sea catfish, having yellow coloration on the upper part of its body. Full definition →

First used 18th–19th c.
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The story

From yellow + back.

First known use, by meaning

  • 18th–19th c. Any member of species Sciades parkeri of sea catfish, having yellow coloration on the upper part of its body.
  • from 19th c. A cheap novel with a yellow cover; any cheaply reproduced novel, typically with sensational content.
  • from 19th c. A monetary note redeemable in gold; a gold certificate.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.