Mackerel

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  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.]
     (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.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {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}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Mackerel sky and mare's-tails
              Make tall ships carry low sails.      --Old Rhyme.
        [1913 Webster] mackerel scad

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  mackerel
       n 1: flesh of very important usually small (to 18 in) fatty
            Atlantic fish
       2: any of various fishes of the family Scombridae