mackerel sky

American  

noun

1. an extensive group of cirrocumulus or altocumulus clouds, especially when well-marked in their arrangement: so called because of a resemblance to the scales on a mackerel.

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mackerel sky British  

noun

1. a sky patterned with cirrocumulus or small altocumulus clouds

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Etymology

Origin of mackerel sky

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mackerel sky

The lilies had died back to the ground; the bark of the crepe myrtles had all peeled away; there was a mackerel sky.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

But now they were higher and smaller, settling at last into a mackerel sky like a beach at low tide.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

"Mackerel sky, mackerel sky, not long wet nor not long dry," said a man in a black silk top hat to Tristran and Yvaine.

From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman

It forms the mackerel sky alluded to in the following distich:— "A mack'rel sky and mares'-tails Make lofty ships carry low sails."

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

Nos. 1020-1028.—The mackerel sky is a name given to an assemblage of cirrus clouds which are thought to imitate the barred markings on the side of a mackerel.

From Current Superstitions Collected from the Oral Tradition of English Speaking Folk by Bergen, Fanny D. (Fanny Dickerson)