Swordfish, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

The Rochester Bestiary records the swordfish is named after the Latin word for sword, the gladius.

The swordfish uses it’s gladius like a “rostro”; the sharp point Roman warships used to ram enemy ships.

Transcription

Translation

Gladius est piscis. qui mucusnato rostro naves perforat;

The swordfish is a fish, who pierces ships with a mucous beak.