資料來源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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.]
(Zo["o]l.)
Any species of the genus {Scomber}, and of several related
genera. They are finely formed and very active oceanic
fishes. Most of them are highly prized for food.
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.
{Bull mackerel}, {Chub mackerel}. (Zo["o]l.) See under
{Chub}.
{Frigate mackerel}. See under {Frigate}.
{Horse mackerel} . See under {Horse}.
{Mackerel bird} (Zo["o]l.), the wryneck; -- so called because
it arrives in England at the time when mackerel are in
season.
{Mackerel cock} (Zo["o]l.), the Manx shearwater; -- so called
because it precedes the appearance of the mackerel on the
east coast of Ireland.
{Mackerel guide}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Garfish}
(a) .
{Mackerel gull} (Zo["o]l.) any one of several species of gull
which feed upon or follow mackerel, as the kittiwake.
{Mackerel midge} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), the porbeagle.
{Mackerel sky}, or {Mackerel-back sky}, a sky flecked with
small white clouds; a cirro-cumulus. See {Cloud}.
Mackerel sky and mare's-tails Make tall ships carry
low sails. --Old Rhyme.
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}.]
2. Any small vessel on the water. [Obs.] --Spenser.
{Frigate bird} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), an oceanic fish ({Auxis
Rochei}) of little or no value as food, often very
abundant off the coast of the United States.
{Frigate pelican}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Frigate bird}.