a large marine fish, Callorhinchus milii, of southwest Pacific waters, having a snout resembling an elephant's trunk
Also called: reperepe
elephant fish in American English
noun
any of several long-snouted fishes belonging to the genus Callorhyncus, of the family Callorhynchidae (Chimaeridae), inhabiting deep waters of the Southern Hemisphere
Word origin
[1765–75]This word is first recorded in the period 1765–75. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: backwash, bonus, copperhead, guidance, statement