# mackerel

/ˈmækɝəɫ/ (US) · /mˈækəɹəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mackerel
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the fish

noun · CEFR B2

a sea fish with oily meat and a silver skin with dark stripes.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. cloud pattern

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a pattern of small, wavy clouds that looks like the scales of a fish.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. a pimp

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a person who controls or manages prostitutes.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: This sense is entirely obsolete in modern speech and is only encountered in historical texts.

## Examples

- We had grilled mackerel for dinner last night.
- The local market sells fresh mackerel caught by the coastal fleet early each morning.
- Large schools of mackerel migrate toward the warmer waters of the continental shelf during the spring spawning season, attracting both commercial trawlers and natural predators.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.