Don stockfish, soul of a mortar, stone of a date, more obstinate and obdurate than a clown asked a favour when he has his mind made up, if I fall upon you I'll tear your eyes out!
"The History of Don Quixote, Volume II., Complete"
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
You have been held too long in this miserable suspension, neither maid nor wife, neither woman nor stockfish.
"The Complete Project Gutenberg Works of George Meredith"
George Meredith
Oh, I am very fond of stockfish; I should have been born a Newfoundland fisherman."
"The Wandering Jew, Book II."
Eugene Sue