Word: devilfish Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Compound of devil + fish. 1. Any of several not closely related marine animals: Labels: dated Example: The unattractive reptilian specimen in the man’s right hand is an octopus, or devilfish, which constitutes a favorite dish with the Asiatics of the islands. Example: We have all heard of the octopus or devil-fish, with its long arms covered with powerful suckers, which is always waiting to seize the unsuspecting, choke and bite him, always grasping with another arm when the grip of one of them is loosened—suitable symbol of the trust. 2. Any of several not closely related marine animals: Labels: dated Example: It can easily be imagined that such creatures as these could drown a man, or upset a boat, and they have furnished material for many fabulous accounts of sea-serpents and devil-fishes. Example: At the bottom of the story of Skylla may lie a sailor's tale of the kraken or devil-fish, which sometimes grows to a gigantic size; Charybdis is obviously nothing but a dangerous whirlpool. 3. Any of several not closely related marine animals: Labels: dated Example: The California gray whale, or devil-fish (Rhachianectes glaucus), is found only in the North Pacific, and is an object of pursuit by the shore stations established along that coast. Example: The Sarah Warren returned with 1,100 bbls. of "devil fish" oil and 60 bbls. of sperm oil, and her tender, the Nevada, returned with 74, bbls. of whale oil. 4. Any of several not closely related marine animals: Labels: dated Example: The same carnivorous instincts are likewise attributed to the devil-fish, or piranha so common in the Rio San Francisco, and the terror of bathers. Example: It is a kind of sturgeon, scaleless, spotted and marbled, flat-muzzled and whiskered, like the "cats" (Silurus), which drown the negro boys fishing in the Mississippi waters, and ugly as any "devil-fish". 5. Any of several not closely related marine animals: Labels: dated Example: The American angler, or devil fish, which was placed In the Aquarium on Tuesday, was found dead in the tank yesterday morning. Mr. Coup, the manager, is making great effort to procure another specimen, as well as some strange fish from South America. Example: The four successful trawls yielded us examples of the Angler or Devil-fish, Lophius piscatorius; […] 6. Any of several not closely related marine animals: Labels: dated Example: In the rivers of southern Mexico, a lizard-like fish with armor for skin has taken over the habitat of the native fish like róbalo and mojarra. Locals call it the pez diablo, or devil fish, and long assumed it was poisonous. Example: But a U.S. law, aimed at protecting American catfish farmers from cheaper Asian imports, means there is effectively a ban on foreign catfish‚ including the suckermouth or devil fish, from entering the U.S. 7. Any of several not closely related marine animals: Labels: dated Example: Elliott's "South Carolina Field Sports" is a very interesting and entirely trustworthy record of the sporting side of existence on the old Southern plantations, and not only commemorates how the planters hunted bear, deer, fox, and wildcat in the cane-brakes, but also gives a unique description of harpooning the devil-fish in the warm Southern waters. Example: The Tectospondyli contains those dog-fishes which have no anal fin, and the rays and devil-fishes. 8. Any of several not closely related marine animals: Labels: dated, specifically 9. Any of several not closely related marine animals: Labels: dated Example: Devilfish are rather shy and difficult to approach. However, patience and perseverence^([sic]) usually pay off. Example: Another closely related marine family, the Indo-Pacific Plesiopidae (roundheads), are well represented in Australian waters, with such familiar and brightly colored species as the hulafishes (Trachinops), devilfishes (Paraplesiops), and longfins (Plesiops).