blue jack
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun 1. A small salmon: A common name for a species of small salmon, specifically the coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), especially in its early ocean-going phase. It is found in the northern Pacific Ocean and, as an introduced species, in the Great Lakes.
Usage Notes
- The term "blue jack" is a specific common name used primarily in commercial fishing and regional contexts to refer to a young coho salmon.
- It is not a standard biological classification but a colloquial name based on the fish's silvery-blue coloration ("blue") and its status as a young, migratory salmon ("jack").
- This term is used as a singular countable noun (e.g., , ).
Examples
- The fishermen caught a large number of blue jacks off the coast of Alaska.
- In the Great Lakes, the blue jack is a popular target for sport fishing.
- You can distinguish a blue jack from other young salmon by its distinctive coloring.
Advanced Usage
- The term "jack" more broadly refers to any small, precocious male salmon that returns to spawn at a younger age and smaller size than typical adults. A "blue jack" is specifically a coho salmon in this category.
Variants and Related Words
- Coho Salmon (n.): The standard common name and biological species name () for the adult fish.
- Silver Salmon (n.): Another common name for the coho salmon.
- Jack Salmon (n.): A general term for a small, early-maturing male salmon.
Synonyms
- Young coho salmon
- Jack coho
Notes on Different Meanings
- "Blue" and "Jack" as Separate Words: The term "blue jack" is a fixed compound noun referring to the fish. It should not be confused with the separate adjectives "blue" (a color) and "jack" (a device or a name). For example, a "blue jack" is not a blue-colored tool or person named Jack.
Noun
- small salmon of northern Pacific coasts and the Great Lakes