noun, plural (especially collectively) red·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) red·fish·es.
- Also called ocean perch, rosefish. a North Atlantic rockfish, Sebastes marinus, used for food.
- red drum.
- sheephead.
noun plural -fish or -fishes
- a male salmon that has recently spawnedCompare blackfish (def. 2)
- any of several red European scorpaenid fishes of the genus Sebastes, esp S. marinus, valued as a food fish
15c., of various species, especially originally the male salmon in spawning season; from red (adj.1) + fish (n.).