From gold + eye, from the fish's characteristic iris.
A compound of gold + eye
Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃- ‘green, yellow’
…
Proto-Germanic *gulþą ‘gold’
Proto-West Germanic *golþ
Old English gold ‘gold’
Middle English gold ‘gold’
English gold
Proto-Indo-European *h₃ekʷ- ‘eye’
Proto-Germanic *augô
Proto-West Germanic *augā
Old English ēage
Middle English e
English eye
Today it means
noun A North American freshwater fish of the mooneye family, Hiodon alosoides, usually eaten smoked.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / goldeye
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