catfish

• Nom désignant tout poisson de fond, principalement d'eau douce, souvent caractérisé par des barbillons autour de la bouche, comprenant aussi certaines espèces marines ; la chair de certaines espèces est couramment consommée.

A noun referring to any of numerous mostly freshwater bottom-dwelling fishes, often characterized by whisker-like barbels around the mouth, and also used for certain marine species; the flesh of some species is commonly eaten.

1. Freshwater fishB1formal

   Any of numerous mostly freshwater bottom-dwelling fishes of Eurasia and North America, characterized by barbels resembling whiskers around the mouth.

   Poisson-chat (silure)

   • The catfish hid among the rocks at the bottom of the river.
   • He caught a large catfish while fishing in the lake.
   • Catfish are known for their whisker-like barbels.

2. B1informalamericanculinary

   The flesh of a scaleless food fish, often farmed, particularly popular in the southern United States.

   poisson-chat (nourriture)

   • We ordered fried catfish at the restaurant.
   • Catfish is a staple in Southern cuisine.
   • The farm raises catfish for the local market.

   Synonymesmudcat

3. Deep-sea fishC1formalscientific

   A large, ferocious northern deep-sea food fish with strong teeth and no pelvic fins.

   Lotte de mer

   • The deep-sea catfish is rarely seen near the surface.
   • Fishermen caught a massive catfish in the northern waters.
   • This species of catfish has no pelvic fins.

   Synonymeswolf fishwolffish