Chiefly United States regional. Any of various fishes which frequent oyster beds; especially (a) the oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau; (b) the tautog, Tautoga onitis; (c) the naked goby, Gobiosoma bosci.
Origin
Early 17th century (in an earlier sense). From oyster + fish.
Definition of oysterfish in US English:
oysterfish
nounˈɔɪstəfɪʃ
Chiefly United States regional. Any of various fishes which frequent oyster beds; especially (a) the oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau; (b) the tautog, Tautoga onitis; (c) the naked goby, Gobiosoma bosci.
Origin
Early 17th century (in an earlier sense). From oyster + fish.