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jackfish

jackfish

7.1
A sea fish like a trevally that lives near the coast
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒækˌfɪʃ/
  • US
translation icon : pez jack
  • In the tropical waters, many fishermen catch jackfish for their delicious taste and firm texture.

Examples

  • The sea turtles here are three-meter beasts, and jackfish swim in swirling balls in their hundreds.

    Blog text (3)
  • The local market sells fresh jackfish, which is popular among both residents and tourists.

  • While snorkeling, we saw a school of jackfish swimming gracefully through the coral reef.

Synonyms

jack
vsjackfish
1 8.3

A fast sea fish often caught for food

is a coastal example of the family not only a fast predatory species
carangid fish
vsjackfish
  • Specialized
9.4

A sea fish like a jack that has a fast, thin body and a forked tail

is a coastal member of that family rather than any family species
carangid
vsjackfish
  • Specialized
9.9

A sea fish from a group that includes jacks and pompanos found in warm seas

is specifically a coastal species within that family not a general family label

Surface Forms

jackfish singular
jackfish plural

Morphology

jackfish = jack + fish (semi-transparent) = jack + fish

Formally a clear compound of 'jack' + 'fish' indicating a fish, but the specific taxonomic sense (jack family) is specialized and not fully predictable for average learners.

Etymology

Jackfish comes from the simple name jack, which people used for quick, strong sea fish. So jackfish is a coastal fish of the jack family, like a trevally.