mackerel

[ mak-er-uhl, mak-ruhl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural (especially collectively) mackerel, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) mackerels.

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

mackerel

/ ˈ��æ��ə�� /

noun

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
any of various other fishes of the family Scombridae, such as Scomber colias (Spanish mackerel) and S. japonicus (Pacific mackerel)

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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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of mackerel¹

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

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Compare Meanings

How does mackerel compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

king mackerel vs. mackerel

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Rich also recommended Wild Planet’s canned fish, which includes tuna, sardines, salmon, mackerel, yellowtail and anchovies.

From

His gumbo recipe, for example, calls for two pouches each of smoked clams, oysters and mackerel along with white rice, oregano, cumin and chile peppers.

From

I considered the monkfish, the mackerel, the cockles.

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"They get huge volumes of cod liver oil, lard, salmon oil and get oily fish like sardines, mackerel and salmon."

From

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

From

Mackenzie Mountains mackerel breeze

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