paddlefish

Noun

paddlefish (countable and uncountable, plural paddlefish or paddlefishes)

1. Any of several primitive fish, of the family Polyodontidae, that have a long snout shaped like a paddle.
   • Caviar comes from various species of sturgeons and paddlefishes.1996 May 21, The Associated Press, “Test for Caviar Source”, in The New York Times
   • A plucky, compact vendor of fish, Mr. Shuckman spent years peddling southern paddlefish roe from his seafood shop in Louisville, knocking on doors of fancy restaurants and country clubs, asking anyone who would listen, "Y'all want some caviar?"2003 July 20, Jeffrey Gettleman, “Humble Paddlefish Fulfills Southerners' Caviar Dreams”, in The New York Times

   Synonyms:

   shovelfish, spadefish

   1. (often, specifically) The American paddlefish.