The Collaborative International Dictionary
Nerka \Ner"ka\, n. [Russ. niarka, prob. fr. native name.] (Zo["o]l.) The most important salmon of Alaska ( Oncorhinchus nerka), ascending in spring most rivers and lakes from Alaska to Oregon, Washington, and Idaho; -- called also red salmon, redfish, blueback, and sawqui.
Wiktionary
n. 1 Any of several fish 2 # A lake trout, (taxlink Salmo oquassa species noshow=1) 3 # A salmon, ''Oncorhynchus nerka'' 4 # A herring, (taxlink Clupea aestivalis species noshow=1), similar to the alewife
WordNet
Wikipedia
Blueback may refer to any of a number of unrelated fish species with blue coloration:
- Cisco (fish)
- lake herring
- Blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis)
- Sockeye salmon
- Blueback Shad, a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Alosa
- Blueback, a local nickname for Beardslee trout
- Blueback, a hooded seal when it's up to about 14 (16), months of age
Blueback may also refer to:
- Blueback (novel), a 1997 novel by Australian author Tim Winton
- Confederate States of America dollar
- USS Blueback (SS-326), a US Navy submarine of the Balao-class
- USS Blueback (SS-581), a Barbel-class submarine and the last non-nuclear submarine to join the US Naval Fleet
Blueback is a short novel by Australian author Tim Winton. Published in 1997, with a new copy in 2008, it is subtitled: a fable for all ages.
Blueback details the life of Abel Jackson, a diver and later marine biologist, from when he was 10 years old into his adult life. The title of the book originates from a fish Abel sees while diving in the bay near his house; a giant blue groper. Abel and his mother, Dora, name it Blueback, and they repeatedly visit it as it spends its life on the reef there. Abel lives with Blueback through many hard times, including protecting him from a poacher. Abel grows up to become a marine biologist as a result of his passion for the sea and love of Blueback.
The novel isn't all about the life of Abel Jackson. The novel also outlines a message: "The decisions made in ones childhood can greatly affect his life during adulthood".
Described by the author as a "contemporary fable", Blueback explores universal human themes such as love for family, passion, growing up, and belonging. It has been variously described by reviews as "a clearly articulated call for ecological responsibility" in which "Winton pulls deftly on the heartstrings" and a "mawkish [tale] about world ecology that as message is indisputably bad"
In 1999, Blueback was awarded the Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children's Literature in the Senior Fiction category, and in 1999 was awarded the Hoffman Award by the West Australian Young Readers Book Award association.
In 2009, Blueback was adapted into a puppet show by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, located in Fremantle. It was performed at the West Australian Maritime Museum to positive reviews.
Usage examples of "blueback".
CHARACTERS APPENDIX Allmother, Meerclar, Creator of the Folk Bandyleg, Firsthome cat Bast-Imret, Boneguard Beetleswat, young Meeting Wall torn Bitefast, Clawguard Bite-then-Bark, Rauro, Dog-king of Eatbugs' story Blueback, a prince of the Folk Bobweave, a First-walker Brightnail, a prince of the Folk Brindlesides, Fritti Tailchaser's father Bristlejaw, Meeting Wall Master-singer Brushstalker, First-walker Thane Cleanwhisker, a prince of the Folk Clearsong, Tirya, Tailchaser's oldest sister Click, Master, a squirrel Climbfast, a prince of the Folk Cloudleaper, Cat-queen of Eatbugs' story Crushgrass, Clawguard chieftain Dandlegrass, Firsthome cat Dayhunter, companion of Fencewalker Dewtreader, Prince Sresla, Prince Consort to Queen Sunback Earnotch, Vastnir prisoner, storyteller Earpoint, Meeting Wall elder, delegate ?
Recorded a joychoice at the proper time—bird watching—but one can suspect he did so primarily to comply with tradition since he did nothing with this purported avocation for a number of years, to be precise, nothing until a little over two years ago, when he began showing a strong interest in tracking avian migrations and applied for leave to follow the greater blueback on its biennial flights.
Earth soldiers went in armed pairs on a street like Trumpet Road: for a Krasnan swamp-rancher, fisher, miner, logger, trapper, brawling away his accumulated loneliness, with a skinful of vodka or rice wine, a fluff-headed fille-de-joie to impress, and a sullen suspicion that the dice had been loaded, was apt to unlimber his weapons when he saw a blueback.
The bluebacks’ questions were clear and calm, Smith’s answers little more than mumbles.
He had heard the voices of only two peace officers, which meant that, unless there had been a third blueback with nothing to say, they were allowing Smith to drive away by himself.
You signed that blueback in good faith, and I believe you can squeeze them for every last cent of your salary, whether you ever step into a Cleaves Mills class-room or not.