Definition

Noun: 1. A large, edible fish of the mackerel family: Specifically, it refers to a species of mackerel (Scomberomorus regalis) found in the coastal Atlantic waters of the temperate United States. It is also commonly known as the cero mackerel or king mackerel. 2. (Historical/Ornithology) A seabird: An older or less common name for the Cape petrel (Daption capense), a seabird of the southern oceans, also formerly called the pintado petrel or pintado bird due to its black-and-white spotted plumage.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Fish):
  • The angler was thrilled to catch a large pintado off the Florida coast.
  • Grilled pintado is a popular dish in many coastal restaurants.
• Noun (Bird):
  • The sailors spotted a pintado following the ship through the southern ocean. (This usage is now rare.)

Advanced Usage

• The term pintado is derived from Spanish/Portuguese, meaning "painted" or "spotted," which describes the appearance of both the fish (with its silvery body and yellow spots) and the bird (with its black-and-white mottled plumage).
• In modern contexts, especially in North America, pintado almost exclusively refers to the fish. The ornithological usage is largely historical or found in specialized texts.

Variants and Related Words

• Cero (mackerel): A direct synonym for the fish .
• King mackerel: While sometimes used interchangeably, "king mackerel" typically refers to the closely related .
• Pintado petrel / Pintado bird: Historical names for the Cape petrel ().

Synonyms

• For the fish: Cero, cero mackerel, painted mackerel.
• For the bird: Cape petrel, Cape pigeon, pintado petrel (archaic).

Related Phrases

• Pintado shark: This is a separate, unrelated species (a type of shark) and should not be confused with the mackerel.

Noun

1. large edible mackerel of temperate United States coastal Atlantic waters