What does pollock mean?
Pollock is a North Atlantic marine fish belonging to the cod family. It is the same species that is widely called saithe in British English, a name still especially common in parts of northern Europe. In the United States, pollock is the familiar market and restaurant name, and the fish is often filleted or sold as inexpensive “pollock cheeks.” Although it resembles cod and belongs to the same family, it is a distinct species and should not be treated as a synonym for cod. Its firm, mild-flavored flesh makes it a common choice for baking, frying, roasting, and steaming. The word is also encountered in phrases such as Norwegian pollock, reflecting the fish’s association with northern European waters. Although British and North American speakers use the same word with somewhat different frequencies, the underlying fish is the same.
nounA marine fish of the cod family, found in the North Atlantic and Norwegian Sea. In British usage it is generally called a saithe, while pollock remains especially common in North America.
- A marine fish of the cod family, especially the saithe of the North Atlantic and Norwegian Sea, commonly called saithe in British English.
"The restaurant served roasted pollock with lemon and fresh herbs."
"Line fishermen caught several pollock just beyond the harbour."
"Pollock cheeks are prized by cooks for their firm, delicate texture."
Pollock is regularly used unchanged in the plural in fishing and commercial contexts.
"The trawler unloaded several thousand pollocks."
North American pollock and European saithe are two names for the same fish—an identity swap hiding in plain sight.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pollock come from?
The word pollock is recorded as the name of a fish from the early nineteenth century, but its precise origin is uncertain. It has sometimes been associated with the surname Pollock, although a shared historical derivation has not been firmly established. The British name saithe has a different and older history, deriving from an Old English term associated with herring-like fish.
How pollock is actually used
The name is especially common in North America for the European saithe. In Britain, saithe is the usual culinary and regional term, though pollock is also understood.
Easily confused with pollock
Pollack is an alternative spelling of the fish name pollock.
Pollock and cod are related fishes, but they are distinct species with different scientific names and characteristics.