gar Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun primitive predaceous North American fish covered with hard scales and having long jaws with needlelike teeth
garpike; billfish; garfish; Lepisosteus osseus.
noun elongate European surface-dwelling predacious fishes with long toothed jaws; abundant in coastal waters
billfish; needlefish.

Prob. AS. gar dart, spear, lance. The name is applied to the fish on account of its long and slender body and pointed head. Cf. Goad, Gore, v.

(Zoöl.) (a) Any slender marine fish of the genera Belone and Tylosurus. See Garfish. (b) The gar pike. See Alligator gar (under Alligator), and Gar pike.

Of Scand. origin. See Gear, n.