1. Any of various fishes of the family Scombridae.
2. Flesh of very important usually small (to 18 in) fatty Atlantic fish.
Any of various fishes of the mackerel family Scombroidia, especially the common mackerel Scomber scombrus found in the N Atlantic and Mediterranean. It weighs about 0.7 kg/1.5 lb, and is blue with irregular black bands down its sides, the latter and the under surface showing a metallic sheen. Like all mackerels, it has a deeply forked tail, and a sleek, streamlined body form.
The largest of the mackerels is the tuna, which weighs up to 700 kg/1,550 lb.