Definitions for: Mackerel


[n] any of various fishes of the family Scombridae
[n] flesh of very important usually small (to 18 in) fatty Atlantic fish



Webster (1913) Definition: Mack"er*el, n. [OF. maquerel, F. maquereau, fr. D.
makelaar mediator, agent, fr. makelen to act as agent.]
A pimp; also, a bawd. [Obs.] --Halliwell.


Mack`er*el, n. [OF. maquerel, F. maquereau (LL.
macarellus), prob. for maclereau, fr. L. macula a spot, in
allusion to the markings on the fish. See Mail armor.]
(Zo["o]l.)
Any species of the genus Scomber, and of several related
genera. They are finely formed and very active oceanic
fishes. Most of them are highly prized for food.

Note: The common mackerel (Scomber scombrus), which
inhabits both sides of the North Atlantic, is one of
the most important food fishes. It is mottled with
green and blue. The Spanish mackerel ({Scomberomorus
maculatus}), of the American coast, is covered with
bright yellow circular spots.

Bull mackerel, Chub mackerel. (Zo["o]l.) See under
Chub.

Frigate mackerel. See under Frigate.

Horse mackerel . See under Horse.

Mackerel bird (Zo["o]l.), the wryneck; -- so called because
it arrives in England at the time when mackerel are in
season.

Mackerel cock (Zo["o]l.), the Manx shearwater; -- so called
because it precedes the appearance of the mackerel on the
east coast of Ireland.

Mackerel guide. (Zo["o]l.) See Garfish
(a) .

Mackerel gull (Zo["o]l.) any one of several species of gull
which feed upon or follow mackerel, as the kittiwake.

Mackerel midge (Zo["o]l.), a very small oceanic gadoid fish
of the North Atlantic. It is about an inch and a half long
and has four barbels on the upper jaw. It is now
considered the young of the genus Onos, or Motella.

Mackerel plow, an instrument for creasing the sides of lean
mackerel to improve their appearance. --Knight.

Mackerel shark (Zo["o]l.), the porbeagle.

Mackerel sky, or Mackerel-back sky, a sky flecked with
small white clouds; a cirro-cumulus. See Cloud.

Mackerel sky and mare's-tails Make tall ships carry
low sails. --Old Rhyme.

See Also: Acanthocybium solandri, chub mackerel, common mackerel, common mackerel, family Scombridae, saltwater fish, Scomber colias, Scomber japonicus, Scomber scombrus, Scomber scombrus, Scombridae, scombroid, scombroid fish, shiner, shiner, smoked mackerel, Spanish mackerel, Spanish mackerel, tinker, wahoo

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