silver-fish
Also silver fish.
[Cf. Du. zilvervisch, G. silberfisch.]
1. One of various silver-coloured fishes found in different parts of the world.
| 1703 W. Dampier Voy. III. i. 26 Mullets, Snappers, Silver⁓fish, Garfish. 1712 E. Cooke Voy. S. Sea 342 The Silver Fish is smooth, broad, and thin, of a shining Pearl, or Silver Colour. 1731 Medley Kolben's Cape G. Hope II. 203 The fish at the Cape call'd Silver-Fish is of the shape of a carp. 1745 P. Thomas Jrnl. Anson's Voy. 195 The Fish they call the golden and silver Fish, that are found in divers Provinces [of China]. 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. i. 125 We caught..maids, silver fish, congers. 1852 Gordon in Zoologist X. 3458 Common Sea Bream... In 1849 many were caught by the fishermen, who gave them the name of ‘Siller-fish’. 1884 Goode Nat. Hist. Aquat. Anim. 611 The Tarpum..is the ‘Silver-Fish’ of Pensacola. 1888 Stearns in Goode Amer. Fishes 407 The Silver fish or Grande Ecaille, is common everywhere on the Gulf coast. |
2. An insect of the genus Lepisma, esp. L. saccharina or domestica; a bristletail or springtail.
| 1855 Lardner's Museum Sci. & Art VI. 62 A little insect, vulgarly called the silver-fish, or the silver-lady,..usually found in damp and mouldy cupboards, and in old wood-work. 1879 Jefferies Wild Life 96 Some tall volume which he..bent over with such delight, heedless of dust and silver⁓fish and the gathered odour of years. 1893 Academy 7 Oct. 292/1 The pest of all book lovers, the ‘silver-fish’ or ‘silver coloured book-worm’. |