An Indian and Bangladeshi name for the hilsa fish (Tenualosa ilisha), one of the most prized and culturally significant fish in South Asian cuisine, particularly in Bengali cooking. Known for its rich, oily flesh and distinctive flavor, ilish is often called the 'queen of fish' in Bengali culture. It plays a central role in festivals, weddings, and everyday cooking in West Bengal and Bangladesh. The name 'ilish' is the Bengali term, while 'hilsa' is the more widely used variant in English.
She insisted that no Durga Puja celebration was complete without a proper ilish bhapa — steamed hilsa in mustard paste.
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(India) A fish, the hilsa.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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