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flounder (n.)
Oct. 13th, 2021 08:00 amflounder (FLOUN-der) - n., any of several distantly related, bottom-dwelling, marine flatfish (families Achiropsettidae, Bothidae, Pleuronectidae, Paralichthyidae, and Samaridae), esp. the European flounder (Platichthys flesus).
Pretty much any flatfish that's not a sole can and often is called a flounder, even if it has another name, such as the halibut. They are all born with eyes on either side of their heads, but as they develop, one eye migrates to the other side, so they can rest with one side on the bottom while still seeing with both eyes. Most of them are spotted or otherwise colored to blend in. The name dates to around 1400 as Middle English flowndre, from Anglo-Norman floundre, from Old Northern French flondre, from Old Norse flyðra -- compare modern Swedish flundra, Danish flynder, and German Flunder.
And since I didn't include one yesterday, a picture of Platichthys flesus:
Thanks, WikiMedia!
---L.
Pretty much any flatfish that's not a sole can and often is called a flounder, even if it has another name, such as the halibut. They are all born with eyes on either side of their heads, but as they develop, one eye migrates to the other side, so they can rest with one side on the bottom while still seeing with both eyes. Most of them are spotted or otherwise colored to blend in. The name dates to around 1400 as Middle English flowndre, from Anglo-Norman floundre, from Old Northern French flondre, from Old Norse flyðra -- compare modern Swedish flundra, Danish flynder, and German Flunder.
And since I didn't include one yesterday, a picture of Platichthys flesus:
Thanks, WikiMedia!
---L.
