Macquerel
/ˈmakərəl/noun
An obsolete or historical spelling of mackerel, the marine fish of the genus Scomber.
Did you know?Medieval French used forms such as maquereau for both the fish and a pimp, creating a striking but historically genuine double meaning whose connection remains uncertain.
Etymological Timeline
12th–13th Century
Old French
maquerel / maquereau
“A mackerel; the form also became a word for a pimp, though the relationship between the two meanings is uncertain.”
13th–14th Century
Middle English
makerel / macquerel
“The fish mackerel; variant spellings were adopted from French.”
14th Century
Anglo-French
macquerel
“A documented spelling variant used for the fish.”
15th–16th Century
English
mackerel
“The spelling increasingly standardized as mackerel.”
Modern English
English
mackerel
“A marine fish, especially Scomber scombrus, commonly recognized by its dark, wavy markings.”
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