Meanings
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1
noun
a streamlined sea fish with dark wavy markings, commonly caught for food
A school of mackerel flashed beneath the surface beside the boat.
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2
noun
the oily flesh of this fish eaten as food
The cafe served smoked mackerel with lemon and black pepper.
Thesaurus
Word family
Derived forms
mackerelly
Etymology
From Middle English makerel, through Old French maquerel. Its deeper origin is uncertain; a traditional comparison with words for 'broker' led to a doubtful folk explanation involving the fish escorting shoals of herring.