catfish

Meaning

Noun

1. Any fish of the order Siluriformes, mainly found in fresh water, lacking scales, and having barbels like whiskers around the mouth.
2. The meat of such a fish, popular in the Southern U.S. and Central Europe.

Verb

To fish for catfish.

Verb

To create and operate a fake online profile to deceive (someone).

Synonyms

wolf fish

wolffish

mudcat

siluriform fish

cat-fish

anabas

fish

🐟

Chinese nose

Guatemalan chulín

barbu threadfin

beard fish

brown large-eyed croaker

Ketengus typus

sheathfish

European catfish

barbu

Atlantic wolffish

wolf-fish

ocean whitefish

reef coraker

rita

tomker seertle

bullhead

Tandan

large

sheatfish

small

threadfin

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkætfɪʃ/

Etymology

Cognate with Western Frisian: katfisk

Cognate with Dutch: katvis

Cognate with German: Seekatze

In summary

From cat + fish. Likely so named for its prominent barbels like a cat's whiskers. Compare West Frisian katfisk (“catfish”), Dutch katvis (“catfish”). Compare also German Seekatze (“catfish”, literally “sea-cat”).