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Added 9 October 2026

catfish

/ˈkætfɪʃ/ noun

In Latin: silūrus Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about catfish at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Any fish of the order Siluriformes, mainly found in fresh water, lacking scales, and having barbels like whiskers around the mouth.
The meat of such a fish, popular in the Southern U.S. and Central Europe.

verb

To fish for catfish.
I only use this rod for catfishing.

noun

Someone who creates a false profile on a social media platform in order to deceive people.
Such a false profile.

verb

To create and operate a fake online profile to deceive (someone).

Origin

From cat + fish. Likely so named for its prominent barbels like a cat's whiskers. Compare West Frisian katfisk (“catfish”), Dutch katvis (“catfish”). Compare also German Seekatze (“catfish”, literally “sea-cat”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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