dogtooth tuna

noun

plural dogtooth tuna or dogtooth tunas

: a medium-sized nearly scaleless tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor) of the Indian and southwestern Pacific Ocean that has a large mouth with long conical teeth, often reaches a length of over five feet (1.5 meters), and is valued especially as a sport fish

On ledges and drop-offs along the cliff walls, small groups of big dogtooth tuna wait for the baitfish.—

Steve Cooper

For a species rarely encountered in local waters, fearsome looking dogtooth tuna occupy the thoughts of a lot of West Australian anglers.—

The Sunday Times (Australia)

called also bonito

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of dogtooth tuna was in 1930

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Dogtooth tuna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dogtooth%20tuna. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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