noun
perch
A freshwater fish with spiny fins.
A perch swims through the clear water near the dock.
Etymology
The fish name continues Latin perca and Greek perkē. It preserves a long-established name for this fish rather than sharing the origin of perch meaning a resting bar.
More examples
- We caught three perch in the lake this morning.
- She fries the perch in a little butter.
- Handle a perch carefully because its fin spines are sharp.
Forms
perch · perches
Similar words
- yellow perch
- A specific North American perch with yellowish sides and dark bars.
- European perch
- A European species with reddish pelvic and anal fins.