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scup

(Science: zoology) A marine sparoid food fish (Stenotomus chrysops, or S. Argyrops), common on the atlantic coast of the united states. It appears bright silvery when swimming in the daytime, but shows broad blackish transverse bands at night and when dead. Called also porgee, paugy, porgy, scuppaug.

The same names are also applied to a closely allied southern species. (Stenotomus Gardeni).

Origin: Contr. Fr. American Indian mishcup, fr. Mishe-kuppi large, thick-scaled.