What does oarfish mean?
An oarfish is a long, slender fish with a silvery, ribbon-like body, usually found in deep ocean waters. Its name comes from the tall, oar-shaped dorsal fin extending along much of its back. Oarfish are among the longest and heaviest known fish species, with giant oarfish reaching lengths of several metres, although verified measurements of very large specimens are uncommon. Because they usually inhabit deep water far from shore, encounters are infrequent and are often associated with strandings or sightings near the surface. The word is also used for the preserved specimen in a museum or a specimen seen on a beach. In both British and American English, the plural is normally “oarfish,” without an added -s. The term is generally associated with the deep sea, exceptional size, and the striking appearance of a fish that seems almost serpentine or ribbon-like.
nounA very large, elongated marine fish with a silvery, ribbon-like body and a long dorsal fin resembling an oar. Oarfish live in deep ocean waters and are rarely seen alive, though they sometimes strand near the shore.
- A large, silvery, ribbon-shaped deep-sea fish with an elongated dorsal fin.
"The museum displayed a preserved oarfish after it was found stranded on a beach."
"A rare oarfish was filmed swimming at considerable depth by a research submersible."
"Beachgoers were surprised to encounter an oarfish that had been stranded by the tide."
The plural is normally unchanged: one oarfish, two oarfish.
"Several oarfish were observed near the surface."
The oarfish is a real-life ribbon from the deep, named for the oar-shaped fin running along its back.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does oarfish come from?
The word “oarfish” is an English compound formed from “oar” and “fish.” It refers to the prominent dorsal fin of these fishes, which resembles the blade of an oar. The compound is associated with the 19th century, when the unusual appearance of stranded specimens made the name especially apt.
How oarfish is actually used
The word is usually encountered in reports of unusual deep-sea sightings or strandings. In the singular it refers to one fish, while the plural is normally the unchanged form “oarfish.”
Easily confused with oarfish
Oarfish refers to fish of the family Regalecidae, while ribbonfish can also refer to similarly shaped but unrelated fishes.