snook

¹

[ snook, snook ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) snook, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) snooks.

1. any basslike fish of the genus Centropomus, especially C. undecimalis, inhabiting waters off Florida and the West Indies and south to Brazil, valued as food and game.
2. any of several related marine fishes.

snook

²

[ snook, snook ]

noun

1. a gesture of defiance, disrespect, or derision.

snook

¹

/ snuːk /

noun

1. any of several large game fishes of the genus Centropomus, esp C. undecimalis of tropical American marine and fresh waters: family Centropomidae (robalos)
2. the sea pike Australuzza novaehollandiae

snook

²

/ snuːk /

noun

1. cock a snook
   1. to make a rude gesture by putting one thumb to the nose with the fingers of the hand outstretched
   2. to show contempt by being insulting or offensive

Word History and Origins

Origin of snook¹

First recorded in 1690–1700, snook is from the Dutch word snoek

Origin of snook²

First recorded in 1875–80; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of snook¹

C17: from Dutch snoek pike

Origin of snook²

C19: of obscure origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cock a / one's snook, to thumb the nose: Also cock a snoot.

   a painter who cocks a snook at traditional techniques.

Example Sentences

Bigger fish — jacks, snook — were swimming in spirals or upside down in the shallow waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

From New York Times

Setting out into the Gulf of Mexico in threes and fours, fishermen returned with buckets of tarpon and long, streaked snook.

From Seattle Times

From Indigenous fisheries to commercial operations, snook have been celebrated as a high-quality river fish since the time of Mayan rule, making river fisheries in Mexico important for food, Pease said.

From Science Daily

Fish vary in their omega-3 levels and generally the fishier they taste the more omega-3 fats they have — such as tuna, salmon, deep sea perch, trevally, mackeral and snook.

From Salon

The Indian River Lagoon is an “ecological wonder that supports not just manatees, but green sea turtles, snook, tarpon and a stunning diversity of marine life,” Lopez noted.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• ambush
• crawl
• creep
• evade
• hide
• slink
• slip
• slither
• smuggle
• steal