bream

Bream () is a general term for a number of species of freshwater and marine fish belonging to a variety of genera including: Abramis (e.g. A. brama, the common bream), Acanthopagrus, Argyrops, Blicca, Brama, Chilotilapia, Etelis, Lepomis, Gymnocranius, Lethrinus, Nemipterus, Pharyngochromis, Rhabdosargus or Scolopsis. Although species from all of these genera are called “bream”, the term does not imply a degree of relatedness between these species. Fish termed “bream” tend to be narrow, deep bodied species. The name is a derivation of the Middle English word breme, of Old French origin. The term sea bream is sometimes used for porgies (family Sparidae) or pomfrets (family Bramidae).