skipjack, noun

Origin:
English, U.S. EnglishShow more Transferred uses of general English skipjack a name most frequently used of the tuna Katsuwonis pelamis. (In U.S. English, the name is used of a variety of fishes.)
Any of several marine fishes (especially, as in general English usage, Katsuwonis pelamis): 1. The springer (sense 2 a), Elops machnata. 2. The tuna Katsuwonis pelamis of the Scombridae; katonkel sense 2 a. 3. The elf (sense a), Pomatomus saltatrix.
Note:
In Smith and Heemstra’s Smiths’ Sea Fishes (1986), the name ‘skipjack tuna’ is used for K. pelamis.
1909 E. London Dispatch 3 Mar. 6The ‘Cape Salmon,’ Skipjack, ‘Victoria trout’, and other aliases.
1912 E. London Dispatch 26 Sept. 4The fish..was a Saury pike, known here as a ‘Greenback’ and in some places as the Skipper or Skipjack, from its habit of jumping out of the water. It is fairly common hereabout and has often been known to leap into a ‘grainer’s’ boat, attracted by the light.
1949 J.L.B. Smith Sea Fishes of Sn Afr. 298Euthynnys pelamis (Linnaeus)...Skipjack. Bonita. Watermelon...In all but the coldest seas, not often inshore..only rarely taken in estuaries.
1973 E. Prov. Herald 1 Feb. 14There appears to be lots of skipjack tunny around and deep sea men now are catching them only for bait to troll for marlin.
1978 Sunday Times 12 Mar. (Mag. Sect.) 8Earlier we braaied a freshly-caught skipjack on the coals — and I spared a thought for those sad, hassle-ridden people in the Golden City.
1980 Weekend Post 13 Sept. (Suppl.) 6Fishing to suit all tastes...The best time for fishing in Port Alfred is from December to March, when cob, leervis, elft, skipjack, spotted grunter and white steenbras are plentiful.
The springer (sense 2 a), Elops machnata.
The tuna Katsuwonis pelamis of the Scombridae; katonkel sense 2 a.
The elf (sense a), Pomatomus saltatrix.
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English
skinder, verb intransitivev.skipper, nounn.
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