What is "mackerel"

Mackerel \Mack"er*el\, n. [OF. maquerel, F. maquereau, fr. D. makelaar mediator, agent, fr. makelen to act as agent.] A pimp; also, a bawd. [Obs.]
--Halliwell.

Mackerel \Mack`er*el\, n. [OF. maquerel, F. maquereau (LL. macarellus), prob. for maclereau, fr. L. macula a spot, in allusion to the markings on the fish. See Mail armor.] (Zo["o]l.) Any species of the genus Scomber of the family Scombridae, and of several related gener

1. They are finely formed and very active oceanic fishes. Most of them are highly prized for food.

   Note: The common mackerel ( Scomber scombrus), which inhabits both sides of the North Atlantic, is one of the most important food fishes. It is mottled with green and blue. The Spanish mackerel ( Scomberomorus maculatus), of the American coast, is covered with bright yellow circular spots.

   Bull mackerel, Chub mackerel. (Zo["o]l.) See under Chub.

   Frigate mackerel. See under Frigate.

   Horse mackerel . See under Horse.

   Mackerel bird (Zo["o]l.), the wryneck; -- so called because it arrives in England at the time when mackerel are in season.

   Mackerel cock (Zo["o]l.), the Manx shearwater; -- so called because it precedes the appearance of the mackerel on the east coast of Ireland.

   Mackerel guide. (Zo["o]l.) See Garfish (a) .

   Mackerel gull (Zo["o]l.) any one of several species of gull which feed upon or follow mackerel, as the kittiwake.

   Mackerel midge (Zo["o]l.), a very small oceanic gadoid fish of the North Atlantic. It is about an inch and a half long and has four barbels on the upper jaw. It is now considered the young of the genus Onos, or Motella.

   Mackerel plow, an instrument for creasing the sides of lean mackerel to improve their appearance.
   --Knight.

   Mackerel shark (Zo["o]l.), the porbeagle.

   Mackerel sky, or Mackerel-back sky, a sky flecked with small white clouds; a cirro-cumulus. See Cloud.

   Mackerel sky and mare's-tails Make tall ships carry low sails.
   --Old Rhyme.

edible fish, c.1300, from Old French maquerel "mackerel" (Modern French maquereau), of unknown origin but apparently identical with Old French maquerel "pimp, procurer, broker, agent, intermediary," a word from a Germanic source (compare Middle Dutch makelaer "broker," from Old Frisian mek "marriage," from maken "to make"). The connection is obscure, but medieval people had imaginative notions about the erotic habits of beasts. The fish approach the shore in shoals in summertime to spawn. Exclamation holy mackerel is attested from 1876.

Etymology 1 n. An edible fish of the family Scombridae, often speckled. Etymology 2

n. (context obsolete English) A pimp; also, a bawd.

1. n. flesh of very important usually small (to 18 in) fatty Atlantic fish

2. any of various fishes of the family Scombridae

Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of pelagic fish, mostly, but not exclusively, from the family Scombridae. They are found in both temperate and tropical seas, mostly living along the coast or offshore in the oceanic environment.

Mackerel typically have vertical stripes on their backs and deeply forked tails. Many species are restricted in their distribution ranges, and live in separate populations or fish stocks based on geography. Some stocks migrate in large schools along the coast to suitable spawning grounds, where they spawn in fairly shallow waters. After spawning they return the way they came, in smaller schools, to suitable feeding grounds often near an area of upwelling. From there they may move offshore into deeper waters and spend the winter in relative inactivity. Other stocks migrate across oceans.

Smaller mackerel are forage fish for larger predators, including larger mackerel and Atlantic cod. Flocks of seabirds, as well as whales, dolphins, sharks and schools of larger fish such as tuna and marlin follow mackerel schools and attack them in sophisticated and cooperative ways. Mackerel is high in omega-3 oils and is intensively harvested by humans. In 2009, over five million tons were landed by commercial fishermen (see graph on the right). Sport fishermen value the fighting abilities of the king mackerel.

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Mackerel may refer to:

• Mackerel, any of a number of different species of fish
  • Mackerel as food
• Mackerel sky, a formation of altocumulus clouds
• Mackerel, a type of Tabby cat
• Mackerel Islets, two small islands off eastern Tasmania, Australia

• , the name of three ships of the Royal Navy

• , the name of two submarines of the U.S. Navy