plaice

[pleys] /pleɪs/
noun, plural plaice.
1.
a European flatfish, Pleuronectes platessa, used for food.
2.
any of various American flatfishes or flounders.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English, variant of plais < Old French < Late Latin platessa flatfish < Greek platýs flat1, broad
Examples from the web for plaice
  • Sea bream, plaice and shark as well as sea snails and prawns can be found on daily menus.
British Dictionary definitions for plaice

plaice

/pleɪs/
noun (pl) plaice, plaices
1.
a European flatfish, Pleuronectes platessa, having an oval brown body marked with red or orange spots and valued as a food fish: family Pleuronectidae
2.
(US & Canadian) any of various other fishes of the family Pleuronectidae, esp Hippoglossoides platessoides
Word Origin
C13: from Old French plaïz, from Late Latin platessa flatfish, from Greek platus flat
Word Origin and History for plaice
n.

type of European edible flatfish, late 13c., from Old French plaise (12c., Modern French plie), from Late Latin platessa "plaice, flatfish," perhaps related to or from Greek platys "broad, flat," from PIE *plat- "to spread" (cf. Sanskrit prathati "spreads out;" Hittite palhi "broad;" Lithuanian platus "broad;" German Fladen "flat cake;" Old Norse flatr "flat;" Old English flet "floor, dwelling;" Old Irish lethan "broad"); extended variant form of root *pele- (2) "flat; to spread" (see plane (n.1)).