halibut

noun

Etymology: From Middle English *halibutt, equivalent to holy + but (“flatfish”), since the fish was often eaten on holy days. Cognate with Dutch heilbot, German Heiligbutt, Heilbutt, Heilbutte, Danish helleflynder, Swedish helgeflundra, and Norwegian Nynorsk hellefisk.

1. A large flatfish of the genus Hippoglossus, which sometimes leaves the ocean floor and swims vertically.

   “[...] she frowned a displeased frown and told me for heaven's sake to stop goggling like a dead halibut.”