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Origin and history of weakfish

weakfish(n.)

food-fish of the Atlantic, 1838, from Dutch weekvisch, from week "soft" (see weak (adj.)). So called because it does not pull hard when hooked.

also from 1838

Entries linking to weakfish

weak(adj.)

c. 1300, weik, "deficient in bodily strength; exhausted from exertion," also "lacking moral strength;" from Old Norse veikr "lacking strength," which is cognate with Old English wac "weak, pliant, soft."

They are reconstructed to be from Proto-Germanic *waika- "yield" (source also of Old Saxon wek, Swedish vek, Middle Dutch weec, Dutch week "weak, soft, tender," Old High German weih "yielding, soft," German weich "soft"), which according to Watkins is from PIE root *weik- (2) "to bend, to wind."

Of tools, etc., "lacking effectiveness," early 14c.; of things, "fragile, breakable," late 14c. Specifically of substances, medicines, "not sufficiently imbued with the usual qualities or ingredients," 1590s.

Of a person, especially an opponent or enemy, "lacking fighting skill, deficient in combat power," early 14c. The sense of "lacking authority over others" is recorded by late 14c.

In grammar, denoting a verb inflected by regular syllabic addition rather than by change of the radical vowel, from 1833, in contrast to strong (adj.).

Of the voice by early 14c. In reference to a pulse, "faint," by 1700. Related: Weakly; weaker; weakest.

Figurative expressions about a chain being no stronger than its weakest link are attested by 1846. Weaker vessel as a figurative phrase for "woman" is by 1520s; in Tyndale's New Testament weak translates Greek asthenōn, which St. Paul used in reference to any believer whose faith was beset by doubts and who should be treated tenderly and patiently. Compare weakling.

*weik-(2)

also *weig-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to bend, to wind."

It might form all or part of: vetch; vicar; vicarious; vice- "deputy, assistant, substitute;" viceregent; vice versa; vicissitude; weak; weakfish; week; wicker; wicket; witch hazel; wych.

It might also be the source of: Sanskrit visti "changing, changeable;" Old English wac "weak, pliant, soft," wician "to give way, yield," wice "wych elm," Old Norse vikja "to bend, turn," Swedish viker "willow twig, wand," German wechsel "change."

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    week
    Old English wucu, wice, etc., from Proto-Germanic *wikō(n)- (source also of Old Norse vika, Old Frisian wike, Middle Dutch weke, Old High German wecha, German woche), probably originally with the sense of "a turning" or "succession" (compare Gothic wikon "in the course of," Old N
    leviathan
    late 14c., "sea monster, sea serpent," sometimes regarded as a form of Satan, from Late Latin leviathan, from Hebrew livyathan "dragon, serpent, huge sea animal," of unknown origin, perhaps from root l-w-h- "to wind, turn, twist," on the notion of a serpent's coils. If so, relate
    develop
    1650s, "unroll, unfold" (a sense now obsolete), from French développer. It replaced earlier English disvelop (1590s, from French desveloper); both French words are from Old French desveloper, desvoleper, desvoloper "unwrap, unfurl, unveil; reveal the meaning of, explain," from de
    guilt
    Old English gylt "crime, sin, moral defect, failure of duty," of unknown origin, though some suspect a connection to Old English gieldan "to pay for, debt," but OED editors find this "inadmissible phonologically." The -u- is an unetymological insertion. In law, "That state of a m
    solace
    "comfort in grief; that which brings consolation," c. 1300, solas, from Old French solaz "pleasure, entertainment, enjoyment; solace, comfort," from Latin solacium "a soothing, assuaging; comfort, consolation," from solatus, past participle of solari "to console, soothe," from a
    Jesus
    personal name of the Christian Savior, late 12c.; it is the Greek form of Joshua, used variously in translations of the Bible. From Late Latin Iesus (properly pronounced as three syllables), from Greek Iesous, which is an attempt to render into Greek the Aramaic (Semitic) proper
    hero
    late 14c., "man of superhuman strength or physical courage," from Old French heroe (14c., Modern French héros), from Latin heros (plural heroes) "hero, demi-god, illustrious man," from Greek hērōs (plural hērōes) "demi-god." This is of uncertain origin; according to an old theory
    bolt
    Old English bolt "short, stout arrow with a heavy head;" also "crossbow for throwing bolts," from Proto-Germanic *bultas (source also of Old Norse bolti, Danish bolt, Dutch bout, German Bolzen), perhaps originally "arrow, missile," and from PIE *bheld- "to knock, strike" (source
    individual
    early 15c., "one and indivisible, inseparable" (with reference to the Trinity), from Medieval Latin individualis, from Latin individuus "indivisible," from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + dividuus "divisible," from dividere "divide" (see divide (v.)). Original sense now ob
    satellite
    1540s, "follower or attendant of a superior person" (but rare in this sense before late 18c.), from French satellite (14c.), from Latin satellitem (nominative satelles)  "an attendant" upon a distinguished person; "a body-guard, a courtier; an assistant," in Cicero often in

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