Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†FISHICK, n. Also fishack (Sh. 1899 Evans and Buckley Fauna Sh. 227), fishik. The brown whistle-fish or rockling, Onos mustelus (Ork. 1777 J. Lightfoot Flora Scotica I. 57; Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.). Also in combs.: 1. red-ware fishi(c)k, id. (Ork. a.1795 G. Low Fauna Orcad. (1813) 199); 2. black rock fishik, the black goby, Gobius niger (Ib. 205).1. Ork. 1805 G. Barry Hist. Ork. 292:
The Whistlefish, or, as it is here named, the rid-ware fishick, is a species very often found under the stones among the sea-weed, seldom exceeding nine or ten inches in length.
