Any of various fish that live among rocks in coastal waters, including striped bass and certain scorpionfish.
Compound word from 'rock' (Old English 'rocca') and 'fish' (Old English 'fisc'). Named simply for the habitat where these fish are found.
What we call 'rockfish' on the Pacific coast is actually striped bass in the Atlantic, and scorpionfish in other places—same word, completely different fish! It's a reminder that nature doesn't organize itself by human language categories.
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