Ma"cho (?), n. [Sp.] (Zoöl.) The striped mullet of California (Mugil
cephalus, or Mexicanus).
Mac"i*len*cy (?), n. [See Macilent.] Leanness. [Obs.] Sandys.
Mac"i*lent (?), a. [L. macilentus, fr. macies leanness, macere to be
lean.] Lean; thin. [Obs.] Bailey.
Mac"in*tosh (?), n. Same as Mackintosh.
Mack"er*el (?), n. [OF. maquerel, F. maquereau, fr. D. makelaar
mediator, agent, fr. makelen to act as agent.] A pimp; also, a bawd.
[Obs.] Halliwell.
Mack`er*el (?), n. [OF. maquerel, F. maquereau (LL. macarellus), prob.
for maclereau, fr. L. macula a spot, in allusion to the markings on the
fish. See Mail armor.] (Zoöl.) Any species of the genus Scomber, and of
several related genera. They are finely formed and very active oceanic
fishes. Most of them are highly prized for food.
The common mackerel (Scomber scombrus), which inhabits both sides of
the North Atlantic, is one of the most important food fishes. It is
mottled with green and blue. The Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus
maculatus), of the American coast, is covered with bright yellow
circular spots.
Bull mackerel, Chub mackerel. (Zoöl.) See under Chub. -- Frigate
mackerel. See under Frigate. -- Horse mackerel . See under Horse. --
Mackerel bird (Zoöl.), the wryneck; -- so called because it arrives in
England at the time when mackerel are in season. -- Mackerel cock
(Zoöl.), the Manx shearwater; -- so called because it precedes the
appearance of the mackerel on the east coast of Ireland. -- Mackerel
guide. (Zoöl.) See Garfish (a). -- Mackerel gull (Zoöl.) any one of
several species of gull which feed upon or follow mackerel, as the
kittiwake. -- Mackerel midge (Zoöl.), a very small oceanic gadoid fish
of the North Atlantic. It is about an inch and a half long and has four
barbels on the upper jaw. It is now considered the young of the genus
Onos, or Motella. -- Mackerel plow, an instrument for creasing the
sides of lean mackerel to improve their appearance. Knight. -- Mackerel
shark (Zoöl.), the porbeagle. -- Mackerel sky, or Mackerel-back sky, a
sky flecked with small white clouds; a cirro-cumulus. See Cloud.
Mackerel sky and mare's-tails Make tall ships carry low sails.
Old Rhyme.
{ Mack"i*naw blan"ket (?), Mack"i*naw. }[From Mackinac, the State of
Michigan, where blankets and other stores were distributed to the
Indians.] A thick blanket formerly in common use in the western part of
the United States.
Mack"in*tosh (?), n. A waterproof outer garment; -- so called from the
name of the inventor.
Mac"kle (?), n. [See Macle.] Same as Macule.
Mac"kle, v. t. & i. To blur, or be blurred, in printing, as if there
were a double impression.
Ma"cle (?), n. [L. macula a spot: cf. F. macle. Cf. Mackle, Mascle.]
(Min.) (a) Chiastolite; -- so called from the tessellated appearance of
a cross section. See Chiastolite. (b) A crystal having a similar
tessellated appearance. (c) A twin crystal.
Ma"cled (?), a. 1. (Min.) (a) Marked like macle (chiastolite). (b)
Having a twin structure. See Twin, a.