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

Etymology

Origin of skipjack

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

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

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

Now, my mincing young skipjack, God save King Harry!—Malediction!” he roared, as he snatched up his sword, for with a quick motion the boy had emptied the wine-cup full in his face.

From The King's Esquires The Jewel of France by George Manville Fenn

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