ETYM Spanish and Portu. bonito, from Arabic bainît and bainîth.
1. Any of various scombroid fishes intermediate in size and characteristics between mackerels and tunas.
2. Fish whose flesh is dried and flaked for Japanese cookery; may be same species as skipjack tuna; SYN. oceanic bonito, Katsuwonus pelamis.
3. Flesh of mostly Pacific food fishes of the genus Sarda of the family Scombridae; related to but smaller than tuna.
Striped tuna; several fishes of mackerel family.
Any of various species of medium-sized tuna, predatory fish of the genus Sarda, in the mackerel family. The ocean bonito Katsuwonus pelamis grows to 1 m/3 ft and is common in tropical seas. The Atlantic bonito Sarda sarda is found in the Mediterranean and tropical Atlantic and grows to the same length but has a narrower body.