Codfishes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A variety of fish belonging to the family Gadidae, typically characterized by a moderately elongated body and a prominent barbel on the chin
2. Often harvested for commercial purposes due to their mild flavor and versatility in cooking
3. Can refer to multiple species, such as Atlantic and Pacific cod, which are popular in many culinary traditions

Etymology: "Codfishes" is the plural of "codfish," a noun for an edible sea fish. The plural form is the less common option: most speakers say "cod" for several fish, and "codfishes" appears mainly when people are naming different kinds or species within the group. The word "codfish" is a compound of "cod" and "fish." The "cod" part is the older element and its origin is uncertain, so the fish's name is best understood as a plain pairing of a fish name with the general word for the animal. The compound simply specifies the species within the broad category of fish, much as "codling" or "codfish" pairings do in other contexts.

Synonyms: cod, haddock, pollock