WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
can•dle•fish
(kan′dl fish′),USA pronunciation n., pl. (esp. collectively) -fish, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) -fish•es.
- FishAlso called eulachon. a small, edible, smeltlike fish, Thaleichthys pacificus, of northwestern coastal waters of North America, being so oily that when dried it can be used as a candle.
- Fishsablefish.
- candle + fish 1880–85
'candlefish' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):