mackerel

(makər əl, makrəl)

noun pl. mackerel or mackerels

any of various scombroid fishes; esp., an edible fish (Scomber scombrus) of the North Atlantic, that has a greenish, blue-striped back and a silvery belly

Origin: ME makerel < OFr maquerel < ?

See mackerel in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. mackerel mackerel or mack·er·els
  1. Any of several widely distributed marine fishes of the family Scombridae, especially the Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus), an important food fish having dark wavy bars on the back and a silvery belly.
  2. Any of the smaller fishes of the suborder Scombroidea, such as the Spanish mackerel.
  3. Any of various similar fishes.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English makerel

Origin: , from Old French maquerel

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