hake

Commercially important, edible, cod-like fish widely distributed in offshore continental shelf waters of temperate seas; includes the European Merluccius merluccius, length up to c.1 m/3¼ ft, head and jaws large, teeth strong; blue-grey on back, underside silvery white; feeds mainly on fish and squid. (Genus: Merluccius. Family: Merlucciidae.)

For people named Hake, see Hake (surname).

The term hake refers to fish in either of:

families Gadidae (subfamily Phycinae) families Merlucciidae (both subfamilies Merlucciinae and Steindachneriinae).

An old European source mentions a hake that was transplanted from the coast of Ireland to Cape Cod. It is uncertain which species this is, but the reference is given below:

This is an Irish salt water fish, similar in appearance to the tom cod. Since the Irish immigration to America, the hake has followed in the wake of their masters, as it is now found in New York bay, in the waters around Boston, and off Cape Cod. The general color of this fish is a reddish brown, with some golden tints - the sides being of a pink silvery luster.

Hake is very popular in Spain, where it is known as merluza.