skipjack

American  

[skip-jak] / ˈskɪpˌdʒæk /

noun

• skipjack,
  plural
• 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

Noun Inflected Forms

• skipjack
  plural
• skipjacks
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of skipjack

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

skipjack skipjacks

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

Dock workers unload frozen skipjack and yellowfin tuna from a ship in Bangkok, bound for the Thai Union cannery, one of the world’s largest tuna processors.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 26, 2024

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

To the angler who is not looking for the largest of game, the bonito—known as skipjack to the Catalina anglers—is possibly the most interesting of the ocean game fishes.

From Game Birds and Game Fishes of the Pacific Coast by Harry Thom Payne

They passed through the military gates, along a dirt road and onto the shore of a little cove, next to one of America’s deepest harbors, where skipjacks flipped out of the aquamarine water.

From New York Times ● Jul. 7, 2023

Standing at the shores of the little bay, Roy pointed out the skipjacks, still flipping.

From New York Times ● Jul. 7, 2023

And duckpin bowling is as Maryland as skipjacks and Old Bay.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 7, 2022

They cranked rap to buoy spirits as they fished with 5-pound skipjacks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 24, 2019

I saw also some bonetas, and some skipjacks, a fish about 8 inches long, broad, and sizable, not much unlike a roach; which our seamen call so from their leaping about.

From A Voyage to New Holland by William Dampier

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