Torsk, or, by corruption, TUSK or CUSK (Brosmius brosme), a valuable fish of the cod family (Gadidæ), abundant in the northern parts of the Atlantic. It measures from 18 inches to 3 feet in length. The head is small, with one barbule under the chin; the single dorsal fin is long; the tail is rounded. The head is dusky, the back and sides yellow, passing into white on the belly. The torsk lives in deep water, but spawns very early in the year among the seaweed of rocky coasts. It is caught in the same manner as cod, ling, &c. Firm and tough when fresh, it is esteemed when dried and salted. It is occasionally caught in the Firth of Forth, but belongs to more northern regions, and is very abundant in the Shetland Isles, the Faroes, on some parts of the coast of Norway, and on the south and west coasts of Iceland. Another species (B. flavescens), with two barbules, occurs on the Newfoundland banks.