Also conner, connor. [In the form conner, prob. an application of CONNER3, CONDER of a ship or of herring-boats.]
The name of two fishes of the family Labridæ or Wrasses: a. The Gilt-head (Crenilabrus melops), found on the British coasts. b. The Blue Perch or Burgall (Ctenolabrus adspersus), found on the Atlantic coast of North America, from Newfoundland to Delaware Bay.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, 34 b. They lay also certaine Weelyes in the Sea for taking of Cunners, which there-through are termed Cunner-pots.
1620. J. Mason, New-found-land, 5. Flounders, Crabbes, Cunners, Catfish.
1836. Yarrell, Brit. Fishes, I. 325. The Gilt-Head, Connor, Golden Maid. Crenilabrus melops (Cuv.).
1839. Penny Cycl., XIII. 261. Crenilabrus Tinca, Flem., called the ‘Gilt-head,’ ‘Connor,’ etc., is found on many parts of our coast.
1852. Hawthorne, Amer. Note-bks. (1883), 417. I have been fishing for cunners off the rocks.
1875. S. Tenney, Zoöl., 340.
