pickerel

pickerel
/pik"euhr euhl, pik"reuhl/, n., pl. (esp. collectively) pickerel, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) pickerels.
1. any of several small species of pike, as Esox niger (chain pickerel) and E. americanus americanus (redfin pickerel), of eastern North America.
2. the walleye or pikeperch, Stizostedion vitreum.
3. Brit. a young pike.
[1300-50; ME pickerel. See PIKE1, -EREL]

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Any of several North American pikes (family Esocidae), distinguished from the northern pike and muskellunge by their smaller size, completely scaled cheeks and gill covers, and banded or chainlike markings.

The chain pickerel (Esox niger) grows to about 2 ft (0.6 m) and a weight of about 3 lbs (1.4 kg). The barred (E. americanus) and grass (E. vermiculatus) pickerels reach a maximum weight of about 1 lb (0.5 kg).

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▪ fish
 any of several North American pikes, family Esocidae, distinguished from the related muskellunge and northern pike by its smaller size, completely scaled cheeks and gill covers, and banded or chainlike markings. The chain pickerel (Esox niger) grows to about 0.6 metre (2 feet) and a weight of 1.4 to 1.8 kilograms (3 to 4 pounds). The barred pickerel (E. americanus) and the grass pickerel (E. vermiculatus) are smaller species reaching a maximum weight of about 0.5 kilograms. See also pike.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Pickerel — Pick er*el, n. [Dim. of {Pike}.] [Written also {pickerell}.] 1. A young or small pike. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Bet [better] is, quoth he, a pike than a pickerel. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) (a) Any one of several species of freshwater… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pickerel — [pik′ər əl] n. pl. pickerel or pickerels [ME < pik,PIKE3 + rel, dim. suffix] 1. any of various small, North American pike fishes (genus Esox) 2. WALLEYE (sense 5b) 3. Brit. a young pike …   English World dictionary

  • pickerel — (n.) late 14c., dim. of pike fish (see PIKE (Cf. pike) (3)), with pejorative suffix REL (Cf. rel) …   Etymology dictionary

  • pickerel — /ˈpɪkərəl/ (say pikuhruhl) noun (plural pickerels, pickerel) any of various species of pike, especially one of the smaller species, as the chain pickerel, Esox niger, and the mud pickerel, Esox vermiculatus. {Middle English pykerel, from pike1 +… …  

  • pickerel — Sauger Sau ger, n. (Zo[ o]l.) An American fresh water food fish ({Stizostedion Canadense}); called also {gray pike}, {blue pike}, {hornfish}, {land pike}, {sand pike}, {pickering}, and {pickerel}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pickerel — Pike Pike, n. [F. pique; perhaps of Celtic origin; cf. W. pig a prick, a point, beak, Arm. pik pick. But cf. also L. picus woodpecker (see {Pie} magpie), and E. spike. Cf. {Pick}, n. & v., {Peak}, {Pique}.] 1. (Mil.) A foot soldier s weapon,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pickerel — noun (plural el or els) Etymology: Middle English pikerel, diminutive of pike Date: 13th century 1. a. dialect chiefly British a young or small pike b. either of two fishes resembling but smaller than the related northern pike: (1) chain pickerel …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • pickerel — a common name used by anglers for walleye (Sander vitreus, Percidae) but strictly speaking the name for the smaller species of the pike family, Esocidae Pickerel is the Middle English for a small pike …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • pickerel — pick•er•el [[t]ˈpɪk ər əl, ˈpɪk rəl[/t]] n. pl. (esp. collectively) el, (esp. for kinds or species) els. 1) ich any of several small pikes of the genus Esox[/ex] 2) ich the walleye, blue pike, or pikeperch 3) ich Brit. a young pike • Etymology:… …   From formal English to slang

  • Pickerel weed — Pickerel Pick er*el, n. [Dim. of {Pike}.] [Written also {pickerell}.] 1. A young or small pike. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Bet [better] is, quoth he, a pike than a pickerel. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) (a) Any one of several species of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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