Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
silverfish [sil-ver-fish] ExamplesWord Origin noun, plural (especially collectively) sil·ver·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) sil·ver·fish·es.
- a white or silvery goldfish, Carassius auratus.
- any of various other silvery fishes, as the tarpon, silversides, or shiner.
- a wingless, silvery-gray thysanuran insect, Lepisma saccharina, that feeds on starch, damaging books, wallpaper, etc.
Origin of silverfish First recorded in 1695–1705; silver + fish Examples from the Web for silverfish Historical Examples of silverfish
“All we ask is that you obey our instructions,” returned the silverfish.
L. Frank Baum
A silverfish then raised its head beside that of the goldfish, and a moment later a bronzefish lifted its head beside the others.
L. Frank Baum
The one who had been a silverfish had snow-white hair of the finest texture and deep brown eyes.
L. Frank Baum
Rapid fire legs sidestep the etchings of industrious ants while silverfish are the boatmen trouncing human oars.
Paul Cameron Brown
British Dictionary definitions for silverfish silverfish noun plural -fish or -fishes
- a silver variety of the goldfish Carassius auratus
- any of various other silvery fishes, such as the moonfish Monodactylus argenteus
- any of various small primitive wingless insects of the genus Lepisma, esp L. saccharina, that have long antennae and tail appendages and occur in buildings, feeding on food scraps, bookbindings, etc: order Thysanura (bristletails)
Word Origin and History for silverfish n.
1703, in reference to various types of silver-colored fish (cf. German Silberfisch, Dutch zilvervisch); from silver + fish (n.). In reference to a type of household insect damaging to books, wallpaper, etc. (also known as silvertail and furniture-bug), it is attested from 1855.