skipjack

American  

[skip-jak] / ˈskɪpˌdʒæk /

noun

skipjacks plural, plural

1. any of various fishes that leap above the surface of the water, as a tuna, Euthynnus pelamis, or the bonito.

2. Entomology. click beetle.

3. Nautical. an American one-masted sailing vessel.

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skipjack British  

/ ˈskɪpˌdʒæk /

noun

1. Also called: skipjack tuna.  an important food fish, Katsuwonus pelamis, that has a striped abdomen and occurs in all tropical seas: family Scombridae (mackerels and tunas)

2. a small spotted tuna, Euthynnus yaito, of Indo-Pacific seas

3. any of several other unrelated fishes, such as the alewife and bonito

4. nautical an American sloop used for oystering and as a yacht

5. another name for a click beetle

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• skipjack
  plural
• skipjacks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of skipjack

First recorded in 1545–55; skip ¹ + jack ¹

Example Sentences

Collectively, this area is bigger than India and offers access to an ocean abundant with marine life, including skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tuna.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

They specifically looked at tropical tuna -- skipjack, bigeye and yellowfin.

From Science Daily • Feb. 21, 2024

It has contracted directly with Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, to supply canned skipjack tuna for its Great Value brand.

From Scientific American • Jul. 14, 2023

My mother recalled how Tomoyo would go to the fish market, look at all the fish and then buy the big tuna — or aku, as skipjack tuna is commonly known in Hawaii.

From Seattle Times • May 14, 2023

Then the new moon showed as a silver fish, balancing on its tail and arching itself like a hooked skipjack.

From Roughing it De Luxe by McCutcheon, John T.