Word
mackerel
Phoneticsmack·er·el, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmækɝəɫ/
UK/mˈækəɹəl/
Definitions
01the fish
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a sea fish with oily meat and a silver skin with dark stripes.
n. any of various predatory marine fish, especially Scomber scombrus, valued as a food source for its high oil content and distinctive iridescent markings.
“We grilled fresh mackerel on the barbecue and served it with lemon.”
“The local economy relies heavily on the seasonal migration of mackerel, which brings large shoals into the coastal waters every summer.”
02cloud pattern
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Literary
n. a pattern of small, wavy clouds that looks like the scales of a fish.
n. a sky pattern consisting of rows of small cirrocumulus or altocumulus clouds, resembling the markings on a mackerel's back.
“The sailor looked up at the mackerel sky and predicted a change in the weather.”
“A classic mackerel sky often precedes an approaching warm front, signaling a shift in atmospheric pressure within the next twenty-four hours.”
03a pimp
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic
n. a person who controls or manages prostitutes.
n. a person who procures customers for prostitutes or a brothel.
“The old play featured a character who acted as a mackerel for the local tavern.”
“In early modern English literature, the term mackerel was frequently employed as a derogatory label for those involved in the procurement of illicit services.”
Synonyms
Usage
The plural form can be 'mackerel' when referring to the food or the species collectively, or 'mackerels' when referring to individual fish.
Real-World Examples
“Jack mackerel contains about half as much omega-3 and around a third as much vitamin B12 as traditional mackerel.” “While the orca pod can devour 1,000 mackerel in a day, fishers far outdo that.” Etymology
From Middle English mackerell, macrell, macrelle, makarell, makerel, makerell, makerelle, makrel, makrell, makyrelle, from Old French maquerel. Further origin unknown.
From Middle English makerel, maquerel, from Old French maquerel, from Middle Dutch makelare, makelaer (“broker”) (> makelaar (“broker, peddler”)). See also French maquereau.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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