# mackerel

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmæk(ə)ɹəl/ · frequency rank #26,154

## Definitions
1. Certain smaller edible fish, principally true mackerel and Spanish mackerel in family Scombridae, often speckled,
2. Certain smaller edible fish, principally true mackerel and Spanish mackerel in family Scombridae, often speckled,
3. A true mackerel, any fish of tribe Scombrini (Scomber spp., Rastrelliger spp.)
4. Certain other similar small fish in families Carangidae, Gempylidae, and Hexagrammidae.
5. A regular pattern, similar to fish scales, of undulating small clouds with sky visible between them.

## Etymology
From Middle English mackerell, macrell, macrelle, makarell, makerel, makerell, makerelle, makrel, makrell, makyrelle, from Old French maquerel. Further origin unknown.

## Common misspellings (12)
`amckerel`, `macckerel`, `macekrel`, `mackeerl`, `mackerell`, `mackerle`, `mackerrel`, `mackkerel`, `mackreel`, `makcerel`, `mcakerel`, `mmackerel`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mackerel