goldfish

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃- Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰĺ̥h₃-to-mder. Proto-Germanic *gulþą Proto-West Germanic *golþ Old English gold Middle English gold English gold Proto-Indo-European *péysks Proto-Germanic *fiskaz Proto-West Germanic *fisk Old English fisċ Middle English fisch English fish English goldfish From gold + fish.

1. A type of small fish, Carassius auratus, typically orange-colored.

   “For the children's fair we'll have a few games they can play, so that each child "wins" a goldfish as a prize.”

   “However, unless you have a nonshedding, nonlicking breed, there's no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog. How about a nice goldfish instead?”

2. A person with an unreliable memory.
3. Nonstandard form of Goldfish (“a small orange saltine-like cracker shaped in the form of a fish”).

   “Tomato soup is not complete without a toasted cheese sandwich and goldfishes. Not the new kind with the smiley faces though.”

   “The only solids he will eat are the Gerber Puffs, Cheerios, maybe some goldfish, and oyster crackers.”