gar
UK[ɡɑː]US[ɡɑːr]
n
A fish of the garfish family, especially the North American freshwater fish with a long snout and sharp teeth.
n
Informal term for a garfish.
Etymology
The word 'gar' is a clipped form of 'garfish,' a term with deep Germanic roots. Its ultimate origin is the Old English word gār, meaning "spear," a term shared with other Germanic languages like Old Norse geirr. This name was applied to the fish as a direct reference to its most distinctive physical feature: its long, narrow, and pointed jaws resembling a spear. Over time, the full compound 'garfish' (spear-fish) was colloquially shortened to 'gar,' especially in North American usage for the freshwater species, while retaining the vivid imagery of its weapon-like snout.
Analysis
This word is a simplex form. It is a shortened form of the word "garfish," which itself originates from Old English gār meaning "spear," due to the fish's long, spear-like snout.
Examples
We saw a large gar lurking in the shallow, weedy part of the lake.
The alligator gar is one of the largest freshwater fish in North America.
He carefully removed the hook from the gar's toothy mouth.