Any small shark of the genus
Galeus or
Mustelus, of which there are several species, as the smooth houndfish (
Galeus canis), of Europe and America; -- called also
houndshark, and
dogfish. [
1913 Webster]
" The European nursehound, or small-spotted dogfish, is Scyllium canicula; the rough houndfish, or large-spotted dogfish, is Scyllium catulus. The name has also sometimes been applied to the bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), and to the silver gar."
[1913 Webster]