skipjack: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Technical (Ichthyology, Nautical)
Quick answer
What does “skipjack” mean?
A type of small, fast-swimming tuna, or a person or thing that skips or jumps energetically.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of small, fast-swimming tuna, or a person or thing that skips or jumps energetically.
The term can refer to the fish Katsuwonus pelamis (also called bonito or oceanic bonito), a simplified sailing boat design, or historically, a lively, frisky person or animal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in American English for the fish, especially in culinary contexts. Nautical term understood in both but perhaps more associated with US Chesapeake Bay workboats.
Connotations
For the fish: neutral/specific. For a person: dated, slightly humorous or rustic. For the boat: practical, traditional.
Frequency
Rare in general discourse. Highest frequency in fisheries, marine biology, and regional nautical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “skipjack” in a Sentence
They are fishing for skipjack.The skipjack darted through the waves.He restored an old skipjack.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “skipjack” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The fishermen brought in a hold full of skipjack.
- He's a lively skipjack of a lad, always on the move.
- The skipjack is a common sight in these coastal waters.
American English
- We're grilling skipjack steaks for the barbecue.
- The Maryland skipjack is a classic oyster-dredging boat.
- Canned skipjack is a cheaper alternative to albacore.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In the canned tuna industry and seafood trade.
Academic
In marine biology and ichthyology texts.
Everyday
Very rare. Possibly in coastal communities or among sailing enthusiasts.
Technical
Precise term for a species of tuna or a class of sailing vessel.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “skipjack”
- Using 'skipjack' to refer to any large tuna (it's a specific, smaller species).
- Spelling as two words: 'skip jack'.
- Assuming it is always a fish when context may be nautical.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is widely consumed, often canned as 'light tuna'. It has a more pronounced, slightly metallic flavour compared to albacore ('white tuna').
It is a type of small sailing work boat, traditionally used for oyster dredging in the Chesapeake Bay. It has a single mast and a simple, functional design.
It is possible but very archaic and stylized. It would mean a lively, frisky person, akin to 'springheel' or 'live wire'.
Skipjack are smaller, have stripes on their belly, and are typically less expensive. Yellowfin are larger, have longer pectoral fins, and are often sold as higher-quality steaks or sushi (ahi).
A type of small, fast-swimming tuna, or a person or thing that skips or jumps energetically.
Skipjack is usually informal, technical (ichthyology, nautical) in register.
Skipjack: in British English it is pronounced /ˈskɪpdʒak/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈskɪpˌdʒæk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly with 'skipjack' as a key component.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a fish that SKIPs over the water, quick as a JACK rabbit.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENERGETIC MOVEMENT IS SKIPPING/JUMPING (applied to a fish or person).
Practice
Quiz
In a historical novel, a character described as a 'young skipjack' is most likely to be: