frigate mackerel

2 definitions found

frigate mackerel - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Frigate \Frig"ate\, n. [F. fr['e]gate, It. fregata, prob.
     contracted fr. L. fabricata something constructed or built.
     See Fabricate.]
     1. Originally, a vessel of the Mediterranean propelled by
        sails and by oars. The French, about 1650, transferred the
        name to larger vessels, and by 1750 it had been
        appropriated for a class of war vessels intermediate
        between corvettes and ships of the line. Frigates, from
        about 1750 to 1850, had one full battery deck and, often,
        a spar deck with a lighter battery. They carried sometimes
        as many as fifty guns. After the application of steam to
        navigation steam frigates of largely increased size and
        power were built, and formed the main part of the navies
        of the world till about 1870, when the introduction of
        ironclads superseded them. [Formerly spelled frigat and
        friggot.]
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     2. Any small vessel on the water. [Obs.] --Spenser.
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     Frigate bird (Zool.), a web-footed rapacious bird, of the
        genus Fregata; -- called also man-of-war bird, and
        frigate pelican. Two species are known; that of the
        Southern United States and West Indies is F. aquila.
        They are remarkable for their long wings and powerful
        flight. Their food consists of fish which they obtain by
        robbing gulls, terns, and other birds, of their prey. They
        are related to the pelicans.
  
     Frigate mackerel (Zool.), an oceanic fish (Auxis Rochei)
        of little or no value as food, often very abundant off the
        coast of the United States.
  
     Frigate pelican. (Zool.) Same as Frigate bird.
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  Mackerel \Mack`er*el\, n. [OF. maquerel, F. maquereau (LL.
     macarellus), prob. for maclereau, fr. L. macula a spot, in
     allusion to the markings on the fish. See Mail armor.]
     (Zool.)
     Any species of the genus Scomber of the family
     Scombridae, and of several related genera. They are finely
     formed and very active oceanic fishes. Most of them are
     highly prized for food.
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     Note: The common mackerel (Scomber scombrus), which
           inhabits both sides of the North Atlantic, is one of
           the most important food fishes. It is mottled with
           green and blue. The Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus
           ), of the American coast, is covered with
           bright yellow circular spots.
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     Bull mackerel, Chub mackerel. (Zool.) See under Chub.
        
  
     Frigate mackerel. See under Frigate.
  
     Horse mackerel . See under Horse.
  
     Mackerel bird (Zool.), the wryneck; -- so called because it
        arrives in England at the time when mackerel are in
        season.
  
     Mackerel cock (Zool.), the Manx shearwater; -- so called
        because it precedes the appearance of the mackerel on the
        east coast of Ireland.
  
     Mackerel guide. (Zool.) See Garfish
     (a) .
  
     Mackerel gull (Zool.) any one of several species of gull
        which feed upon or follow mackerel, as the kittiwake.
  
     Mackerel midge (Zool.), a very small oceanic gadoid fish of
        the North Atlantic. It is about an inch and a half long
        and has four barbels on the upper jaw. It is now
        considered the young of the genus Onos, or Motella.
  
     Mackerel plow, an instrument for creasing the sides of lean
        mackerel to improve their appearance. --Knight.
  
     Mackerel shark (Zool.), the porbeagle.
  
     Mackerel sky, or Mackerel-back sky, a sky flecked with
        small white clouds; a cirro-cumulus. See Cloud.
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              Mackerel sky and mare's-tails
              Make tall ships carry low sails.      --Old Rhyme.
        [1913 Webster] mackerel scad