skipjack

[ skip-jak ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) skip·jack, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) skip·jacks skip·jacks

1. any of various fishes that leap above the surface of the water, as a tuna, Euthynnus pelamis, or the bonito.
2. Entomology. click beetle.
3. Nautical. an American one-masted sailing vessel.

skipjack

/ ˈskɪpˌdʒæk /

noun

1. Also calledskipjack tuna an important food fish, Katsuwonus pelamis, that has a striped abdomen and occurs in all tropical seas: family Scombridae (mackerels and tunas)
2. black skipjack
   black skipjack a small spotted tuna, Euthynnus yaito, of Indo-Pacific seas
3. any of several other unrelated fishes, such as the alewife and bonito
4. nautical an American sloop used for oystering and as a yacht
5. See click beetle
   another name for a click beetle

Word History and Origins

Origin of skipjack¹

First recorded in 1545–55; skip ¹ + jack ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of skipjack¹

C18: from skip ¹+ jack ¹

Example Sentences

In the big barn doorway the Skipjack and Willie Ramsey appeared.

From Project Gutenberg

Pull the stick right over to stick on the wax, and lay the skipjack, stick downward, on the ground.

From Project Gutenberg

Congratulate the Skipjack, with just a hint that he might have looked higher.

From Project Gutenberg

The Skipjack proved speedy and they made the run back to the hotel in good time, arriving there before sundown.

From Project Gutenberg

But when morning came, it was found that the repairs to the Skipjack would take longer than had been anticipated.

From Project Gutenberg