I. ˈmak(ə)rəl noun
( plural mackerel or mackerels )
Etymology: Middle English makerel, from Old French, probably from makerel pimp, modification of Middle Dutch makelaer go-between, broker, pimp, from makelen to act as go-between, broker or pimp (from maken to make, do) + -aer -er; from the belief that mackerel act as pimps for the herring in the schools they accompany — more at make
1.
a. : a fish ( Scomber scombrus ) of the No. Atlantic that is green above with dark blue bars and silvery below, reaches a length of about 18 inches, and in both Europe and America is one of the most important food fishes, being caught chiefly when it leaves the high seas and approaches the coasts in great schools to spawn — see blinker , spike , tinker
b. : a fish of the suborder Scombroidea ; especially : a comparatively small member of this group as distinguished from a bonito or tuna
2. : any of various fishes more or less resembling members of the Scombroidea — usually used with a qualifying term
snake mackerel
horse mackerel
Atka mackerel
[s]mackerel.jpg[/s] [
mackerel 1
]
II. adjective
: ticked — used especially of a coat pattern of tabby cats in which the dark bars are not solid
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English makerel, from Middle French — more at mackerel I
obsolete : pimp