frostfish

plural frostfishes · alternative frost-fish · alternative frost fish

1. A tomcod (either species of Microgadus).
   1. Microgadus proximus

      Synonyms: Pacific tomcod

   2. Microgadus tomcod

      Synonyms: Atlantic tomcod

2. Any member of the genus Benthodesmus cutlassfish
3. USdialectalobsoleteA smelt.
4. New ZealandA scabbardfish.

   Another species of the renowned “frost fish,” but unlike the ordinary frost fish, it is of much greater length in proportion to depth. It well deserves its proper cognomen of the scabbard fish, its silver skin adding to the resemblance.

   1886, Robert Caldwell Reid, Rambles on the Golden Coast of New Zealand, Chapter 20