grindle
An American dialectal term for the bowfin (Amia calva), a freshwater fish native to North America and regarded as a living fossil.
Definitions
An American dialectal term for the bowfin (Amia calva), a freshwater fish native to North America and regarded as a living fossil. The bowfin is known for its aggressive feeding habits and survival in low-oxygen water. 'Grindle' is a Southern and Midwestern dialectal name for this species.
The old-timer said grindles were thick in that stretch of river come summer.
Comments
(US, dated, dialectal) A fish, the bowfin ().
“No Tuesday game to discuss? That's fine, here's plenty of #Brewers media for you this AM - Matt Arnold via Steve "Sparky" Fifer, @adammccalvy.bsky.social, Lane Grindle, @cyrthogg.bsky.social / Corey Knebel, the latest "Brew Crew Scoop" pod, more brewerfanatic.com/forums/topic...”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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Semantically related
- Johnny Grindle81%
A Virginia regional name for the bowfin (Amia calva), a freshwater fish native to North America. The bowfin is a primitive fish with many regional names across its range. 'Johnny Grindle' is one of the more colourful, with 'grindle' being a common name for the species in parts of the South and Midwest.
- Johnny Grindle76%
(US, Virginia) A bowfin, a fish of the species .
- grindylow61%
(UK, folklore, mythological creature) A folkloric creature, said to inhabit water and to grab children with its long sinewy arms and drown them.
- grundel60%
(UK, dialect, archaic) A kind of fish, the groundling.