a teleost fish, Harpodon nehereus, that resembles and is related to the lizard fishes: family Harpodontidae. It is eaten dried with curry dishes as a savoury
Also called: bummalo
Word origin
C19: changed from bombil (see bummalo) through association with Bombay (now Mumbai), from which it was exported
Bombay duck in American English
noun
1.
a small lizardfish, Harpadon nehereus, inhabiting river mouths and estuaries of Asia
2. (in India)
the flesh of this fish, impregnated with asafetida, dried, salted, and used as a condiment or relish, esp. with curry
Also called: bummalo
Word origin
[1665–75]This word is first recorded in the period 1665–75. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: background, recessive, regulation, setback, wader