skipjack

[skip-jak]

noun

plural

skipjack ,

plural

skipjacks, skipjacks .

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.

skipjack

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of skipjack¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of skipjack¹

C18: from _skip ¹ + _jack ¹

Example Sentences

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.

Read more on Science Magazine

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

Read more on Science Daily

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

Read more on Scientific American

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

Read more on New York Times

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.

Read more on Seattle Times