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See also:FISH (O. Eng. fist, a word See also:common to See also:Teutonic See also:languages, cf. Dutch visch, Ger. Fisch, Goth. fisks, cognate with the See also:Lat. piscis) , the See also:common name of that class of vertebrate animals which lives exclusively in See also:water, breathes through gills, and whose limbs take the See also:form of fins (see See also:ICHTHYOLOGY) . The See also:article See also:FISHERIES deals with the subject from the economic and commercial point of view, and See also:ANGLING with the catching offish as a See also:sport . The See also:constellation and sign of the See also:zodiac known as " the fishes " is treated under See also:PISCES . The See also:fish was an See also:early See also:symbol of See also:Christ in See also:primitive and See also:medieval See also:Christian See also:art . The origin is to be found in the initial letters of the names and titles of Jesus in See also:Greek, viz . 'Invoi-S XplaTSs, Oeoi 'Tros, ZwrnP, Jesus Christ, Son of See also:God, Saviour, which together spell the Greek word for " fish," 1X961 . The fish is also said to be represented in the See also:oval-shaped figure, pointed at both ends, and formed by the intersection of two circles . This figure, also known as the vesica piscis, is common in ecclesiastical See also:seals and as a See also:glory or aureole it paintings of See also:sculpture, surrounding figures of the Trinity, See also:saints, &c . The figure is, however, sometimes referred to the See also:almond, as typifying virginity; the See also:French name for the symbol is Amande mystique . The word " fish " is used in many technical senses . Thus it is used of the See also:purchase used in raising the flukes of an' See also:anchor to the See also:bill-See also:board; of a piece of See also:wood or See also:metal used to strengthen a sprung See also:mast or yard; and of a See also:plate of metal used, as in railway construction, for the strengthening of the See also:meeting-See also:place of two rails . This word is of doubtful origin, but it is probably an See also:adaptation of the Fr. fiche, that which " fixes," a peg . This word also appears in the See also:English form " fish," in the metal, See also:pearl or See also:bone counters, sometimes made in the form of fish, used for scoring points, &c., in many See also:games . |
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[back] ERNST KUNO BERTHOLD FISCHER (1824–1907) |
[next] HAMILTON FISH (1808-1893) |
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