tom-cod
(ˈtɒmˈkɒd)
Name for several small fishes. In U.S.: a. The frost-fish (frost n. 7 c); also, loosely, one of various small fishes confused with this. b. In California, the Jack-fish (Sebastodes paucispinis), a rock-fish. c. = king-fish d. In Great Britain: d. A young codfish.
| 1795 J. Sullivan Hist. Maine 21 The people have tom cod, or what they call frost fish, smelts, and also alewives in great plenty. 1838 Haliburton Clockm. Ser. ii. v. 65 [They] used to..catch herrin' and tom cods, and such sort o' fish. 1854 Lowell Leaves fr. Jrnl. Wks. 1890 I. 108 An old fisher⁓man, browner than a tomcod. 1883 Fisheries Exhib. Catal. (ed. 4) 174 Tom Cods, the young of Cod Fish. 1888 Goode Amer. Fishes 123 The King-Fish,..also known..as the ‘Tom-cod’ on the coast of Connecticut. |