any gadoid food fish of the genus Merluccius, such as M. merluccius (European hake), of the N hemisphere, having an elongated body with a large head and two dorsal fins
2.
any North American fish of the genus Urophycis, similar and related to Merluccius species
3. Australian another name for barracouta
Word origin
C15: perhaps from Old Norse haki hook; compare Old English hacod pike; see hook
hake in British English2
(heɪk)
noun
a wooden frame for drying cheese or fish
Word origin
C18: variant of heck2
hake in American English
(heɪk)
nounWord forms: pluralhake or hakes
any of various gadoid marine food fishes, as the silver hake
Word origin
ME, prob. < ON haki, a hook (from the shape of the jaw) > Norw hakefisk, trout, salmon, lit., hook-fish: for IE base see hook