A marine fish, especially a grouper or sea bass found in warm Atlantic and Gulf waters, valued for eating and sport fishing.
From Spanish cabrilla, derived from cabra 'goat,' possibly because of the fish's jumping or nimble behavior in the water. The name transferred from the animal to the fish based on observed behavior.
Spanish fishermen noticed these fish darting around like little goats, so they called them 'cabrillas'—the same word play that made them notice goat-like qualities in completely different creatures!
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