Spanish mackerel
Americannoun
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an American game fish, Scomberomorus maculatus, inhabiting the Atlantic Ocean.
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any of various similar scombroid fishes.
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(in California) the jack mackerel.
noun
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Also called: kingfish. any scombroid food fish of the genus Scomberomorus, esp S. maculatus, of American coastal regions of the Atlantic: family Scombridae (mackerels, tunnies, etc)
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a mackerel, Scomber colias, of European and E North American coasts that is similar to the common Atlantic mackerel
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any of various related marine food fishes, esp Scomberomerus Commerson
Etymology
Origin of Spanish mackerel
An Americanism dating back to 1660–70
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"We were chasing Spanish mackerel and had one eaten by a pack of six of them, four metres off the edge of the boat," he told AFP.
From Barron's ● May 24, 2026
Spanish mackerel are fair on Mahi Mahi on squid or live cigar minnow.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 9, 2019
For generations, fishermen there have claimed rights to the grounds, which are rich with high-value tuna, grouper and Spanish mackerel.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2019
“The reef was there for the taking, but it was also abused,” Kinijoji “Kenny” Sarai, Mr. Masi’s boss, said over a lunch of Spanish mackerel marinated in coconut milk, lemon and vinegar.
From New York Times ● Oct. 24, 2018
His catch proved to be a Spanish mackerel of good size.
From Boy Scouts in Southern Waters by Ralphson, G. Harvey (George Harvey)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
