Fish, v. t. [OE. fischen, fisken, fissen, AS. fiscian; akin to G. fischen, OHG. fisc�n, Goth. fisk�n. See Fish the animal.] 1. To catch; to draw out or up; as, to fish up an anchor.
2. To search by raking or sweeping. Swift.
3. To try with a fishing rod; to catch fish in; as, to fish a stream. Thackeray.
4. To strengthen (a beam, mast, etc.), or unite end to end (two timbers, railroad rails, etc.) by bolting a plank, timber, or plate to the beam, mast, or timbers, lengthwise on one or both sides. See Fish joint, under Fish, n.
To fish the anchor. (Naut.) See under Anchor.