ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ling

n. C / U
C2 Proficiency US //ˈɫɪŋ// ling Informal

n. a long, thin sea fish that people often eat. It looks a bit like an eel and is common in the North Atlantic.

n. any of several marine food fishes of the family Lotidae, especially Molva molva, resembling a cross between a cod and an eel.


SIMPLE

The restaurant serves fresh ling with a side of potatoes.

CONTEXTUAL

Local fishermen often catch ling in the deep, cold waters of the North Atlantic during the winter months.

COMPLEX

While less famous than cod or haddock, ling remains a staple of the regional fishing industry due to its firm texture and suitability for traditional drying and salting methods.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English lenge, from Middle French leynge (compare French lingue), from Middle Dutch *lenge (modern Dutch leng). Cognate with Old Norse langa. Probably related to long.

Etymology 2

From Middle English lyng, from Old Norse lyng.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the fish as food; countable when referring to individual fish or specific species.

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