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albacore

[al-buh-kawr, -kohr]
noun, plural (especially collectively) al·ba·core, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) al·ba·cores.
  1. a long-finned tuna, Thunnus alalunga, of warm or temperate seas, the flesh of which is valued for canning.
  2. any of various tunalike fishes.
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Origin of albacore

1570–80; < Portuguese albacora ≪ North African Arabic al-bakūrah the tuna
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for albacore

Historical Examples

  • Many boatmen and anglers believe that the broadbills follow the albacore.

    Tales of Fishes

    Zane Grey

  • Then we put on an albacore and drew that, tail first, in front of him.

  • It also adheres to whales, turtles, and the larger kinds of albacore.

    The Ocean Waifs

    Mayne Reid

  • Then, I have ten new boats, just the kind you have to have for albacore and tuna.

    El Diablo

    Brayton Norton

  • There's plenty of albacore over here to-night for everybody.

    El Diablo

    Brayton Norton

British Dictionary definitions for albacore

albacore

noun
  1. a tunny, Thunnus alalunga, occurring mainly in warm regions of the Atlantic and Pacific. It has very long pectoral fins and is a valued food fishAlso called: long-fin tunny
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Word Origin

C16: from Portuguese albacor, from Arabic al-bakrah, from al the + bakr young camel
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for albacore

n.

large variety of tuna, 1570s, from Portuguese albacora, from Arabic al bakara "milk cow;" the fish so called for its size.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper