Ellfish

/ˈɛlˌfɪʃ/ noun

Definition

A dialectal or archaic term for an eel or related fish species, combining 'ell' (eel) with 'fish.'

Etymology

Combination of Old English 'æl' (eel) and 'fish' (from Old English 'fisc'). A redundant compound (like 'fish-fish') common in dialectal speech when speakers wanted emphasis.

Kelly Says

Ellfish is hilariously redundant—it's like saying 'fish-fish'—but medieval speakers used these doubled words all the time when they wanted to sound emphatic or local, and some survived into modern dialects!

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