mackerel

[ mak-er-uhl, mak-ruhl ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) mack·er·el, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) mack·er·els.

1. a food fish, Scomber scombrus, of the North Atlantic, having wavy cross markings on the back.
2. Spanish mackerel.
3. any of various similar fishes, as the Atka mackerel.

mackerel

/ ˈmækrəl /

noun

1. a spiny-finned food fish, Scomber scombrus, occurring in northern coastal regions of the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean: family Scombridae. It has a deeply forked tail and a greenish-blue body marked with wavy dark bands on the back Compare Spanish mackerel
2. any of various other fishes of the family Scombridae, such as Scomber colias (Spanish mackerel) and S. japonicus (Pacific mackerel)

Word History and Origins

Origin of mackerel¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Old French, perhaps same word as Middle French maquerel pimp < Middle Dutch makelare broker (by metathesis), equivalent to makel ( en ) to bring together + -are -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of mackerel¹

C13: from Anglo-French, from Old French maquerel, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

All Atlantic salmon, basa, halibut, mackerel, sockeye salmon and Pacific white shrimp were as advertised.

From Salon

The bait was a piece of mackerel flesh.

From BBC

So far, she said, it’s unclear why the pelicans, which feed on anchovies, sardines and mackerel, are suffering from malnutrition.

From Los Angeles Times

Oily fish is defined as fish with a proportion of fat higher than 5-6% of their muscle mass: sardines, longfin tuna, mackerel and horse mackerel are some the most well known examples.

From Salon

At fish counters across Long Island, imported salmon fillets glisten in greater profusion than local mackerel and black sea bass.

From New York Times