- mackerel
- mack|er|el [ `mæk(ə)rəl ] nouncount a sea fish with flesh that contains a lot of natural oila. uncount this fish eaten as food
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.
Mackerel — 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} of the family {Scombridae}, and of… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
mackerel — (n.) edible fish, c.1300, from O.Fr. maquerel mackerel (Mod.Fr. maquereau), of unknown origin but apparently identical with O.Fr. maquerel pimp, procurer, broker, agent, intermediary, a word from a Germanic source (Cf. M.Du. makelaer broker, from … Etymology dictionary
mackerel — [mak′ər əl, mak′rəl] n. pl. mackerel or mackerels [ME makerel < OFr maquerel < ?] any of various scombroid fishes; esp., an edible fish (Scomber scombrus) of the North Atlantic, that has a greenish, blue striped back and a silvery belly … English World dictionary
Mackerel — 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. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
mackerel — ► NOUN ▪ a fast swimming sea fish with a greenish blue back, important as a food fish. ORIGIN Old French maquerel … English terms dictionary
Mackerel — For other uses, see Mackerel (disambiguation). Atlantic horse mackerel … Wikipedia
mackerel — /mak euhr euhl, mak reuhl/, n., pl. (esp. collectively) mackerel, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) mackerels. 1. a food fish, Scomber scombrus, of the North Atlantic, having wavy cross markings on the back. 2. See Spanish mackerel … Universalium
mackerel — [[t]mæ̱kərəl[/t]] N VAR (mackerel is both the singular and the plural form.) A mackerel is a sea fish with a dark, patterned back. Almiro s boat had sailed out to the middle of the bay to fish for mackerel. N UNCOUNT Mackerel is this fish eaten… … English dictionary
mackerel — noun (plural mackerel or mackerels) Etymology: Middle English makerel, from Anglo French Date: 14th century 1. a scombroid fish (Scomber scombrus of the family Scombridae) of the North Atlantic that is green above with dark blue bars and silvery… … New Collegiate Dictionary
mackerel — UK [ˈmækrəl] / US [ˈmæk(ə)rəl] noun Word forms mackerel : singular mackerel plural mackerel a) [countable] a sea fish with flesh that contains a lot of natural oil b) [uncountable] this fish eaten as food … English dictionary
mackerel — /ˈmækərəl / (say makuhruhl) noun (plural mackerel or mackerels) 1. Also, slimy mackerel. a common iridescent greenish fish with irregular darker markings on the back, Scomber australasicus, widely distributed in Australian and New Zealand waters… …