What does skipjack mean?
Skipjack is a compact noun with two established meanings. Its principal modern meaning is a small, fast, striped, mackerel-like fish found in tropical Indo-Pacific waters, particularly the species Scomberomorus commerson. Such fish are agile predators and are often associated with warm coastal and offshore waters. Skipjack also names an old-fashioned type of sailing vessel with one mast and a square sail. The two senses share one useful word but refer to quite different objects: an active marine fish and a relatively simple boat. Confusion can arise with “skipjack tuna,” which is the common name of Katsuwonus pelamis and is technically a tuna rather than the bonito usually denoted by skipjack alone. In ordinary modern usage, the word is most often encountered in discussions of fisheries, marine species, or the tuna whose name incorporates it. Its nautical meaning survives in historical writing, maritime vocabulary, and descriptions of traditional small sailing craft.
nounSkipjack is a small, fast, striped mackerel-like fish, especially the Indo-Pacific bonito (Scomberomorus commerson). It can also denote a one-masted sailing vessel with a square sail.
- A small, fast, striped mackerel-like fish, especially the Indo-Pacific bonito (Scomberomorus commerson).
- A one-masted sailing vessel fitted with a square sail.
"The skipjack leaped from the water as the fishermen drew it alongside."
"Skipjack are abundant in the warm waters around the island."
"The old skipjack crossed the bay under a modest square sail."
The regular plural is “skipjacks.”
"The fishermen caught several skipjacks before the weather turned."
One word names both a swift striped fish and a compact, square-sailed sailing vessel.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does skipjack come from?
Skipjack is generally analyzed as a compound of “skip” and “jack,” although the exact development of its meanings is not entirely clear. The fish sense was current by the early 18th century, probably reflecting the fish's leaping or skipping movement, while the sailing-vessel sense developed later. Words such as “jackstay” and “jackstaff” preserve the related element “jack,” while “skip” belongs to the verb meaning to move in a light, bouncing manner.
Related word forms
How skipjack is actually used
The fish sense is generally the more familiar in modern English, while the vessel sense is established but less common. In the compound “skipjack tuna,” the word denotes a different species from the bonito commonly called a skipjack.
Easily confused with skipjack
Skipjack tuna is the small tuna species Katsuwonus pelamis, whereas skipjack by itself commonly refers to the striped bonito, Scomberomorus commerson.