# halibut

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈhæ.lɪ.bət/ · frequency rank #41,163

## Definitions
1. A large flatfish of the genus Hippoglossus, which sometimes leaves the ocean floor and swims vertically.

## Etymology
From Middle English *halibutt, equivalent to holy + but (“flatfish”), since the fish was often eaten on holy days. Cognate with Dutch heilbot, German Heiligbutt, Heilbutt, Heilbutte, Danish helleflynder, Swedish helgeflundra, and Norwegian Nynorsk hellefisk.

## Common misspellings (10)
`ahlibut`, `hailbut`, `halbiut`, `halibbut`, `halibtu`, `halibutt`, `haliubt`, `hallibut`, `hhalibut`, `hlaibut`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/halibut