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Webster 1913 Edition


Mackerel

Mack′er-el

,
Noun.
[OF.
maquerel
, F.
maquereau
, fr. D.
makelaar
mediator, agent, fr.
makelen
to act as agent.]
A pimp; also, a bawd.
[Obs.]
Halliwell.

Mackˊer-el

,
Noun.
[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.]
(Zool.)
Any species of the genus
Scomber
of the family
Scombridae
, and of several related genera. They are finely formed and very active oceanic fishes. Most of them are highly prized for food.
☞ 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
.
(Zool.)
See under
Chub
.
Frigate mackerel
.
See under
Frigate
.
Horse mackerel
.
See under
Horse
.
Mackerel bird
(Zool.)
,
the wryneck; – so called because it arrives in England at the time when mackerel are in season.
Mackerel cock
(Zool.)
,
the Manx shearwater; – so called because it precedes the appearance of the mackerel on the east coast of Ireland.
Mackerel guide
.
(Zool.)
See
Garfish
(a)
.
Mackerel gull
(Zool.)
any one of several species of gull which feed upon or follow mackerel, as the kittiwake.
Mackerel midge
(Zool.)
,
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
(Zool.)
,
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.

Webster 1828 Edition


Mackerel

MACK'EREL

,
Noun.
[L. macula, a spot; the spotted fish.]
A species of fish of the genus Scomber, an excellent table fish.

MACK'EREL

,
Noun.
A pander or pimp.
Mackerel-gale, in Dryden, may mean a gate that ripples the surface of the sea, or one which is suitable for catching mackerel, as this fish is caught with the bait in motion.

Definition 2024


mackerel

mackerel

English

mackerel on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Noun

mackerel (plural mackerel or mackerels)

  1. An edible fish of the family Scombridae, often speckled.
    • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 8, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:
      Philander went into the next room [] and came back with a salt mackerel that dripped brine like a rainstorm. Then he put the coffee pot on the stove and rummaged out a loaf of dry bread and some hardtack.
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
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Etymology 2

From Middle English, from Old French maquerel, from Middle Dutch makelare, makelaer (broker) (> makelaar (broker, peddler)). See also French maquereau.

Noun

mackerel (plural mackerels)

  1. (obsolete) A pimp; also, a bawd.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Halliwell to this entry?)