资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Mackerel \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.]
(Zo["o]l.)
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.
Note: 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}. (Zo["o]l.) See under
{Chub}.
{Frigate mackerel}. See under {Frigate}.
{Horse mackerel} . See under {Horse}.
{Mackerel bird} (Zo["o]l.), the wryneck; -- so called because
it arrives in England at the time when mackerel are in
season.
{Mackerel cock} (Zo["o]l.), the Manx shearwater; -- so called
because it precedes the appearance of the mackerel on the
east coast of Ireland.
{Mackerel guide}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Garfish}
(a) .
{Mackerel gull} (Zo["o]l.) any one of several species of gull
which feed upon or follow mackerel, as the kittiwake.
{Mackerel midge} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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.
Plow \Plow\, Plough \Plough\ (plou), n. [OE. plouh, plou, AS.
pl[=o]h; akin to D. ploeg, G. pflug, OHG. pfluog, pfluoh,
Icel. pl[=o]gr, Sw. plog, Dan. ploug, plov, Russ. plug',
Lith. plugas.]
1. A well-known implement, drawn by horses, mules, oxen, or
other power, for turning up the soil to prepare it for
bearing crops; also used to furrow or break up the soil
for other purposes; as, the subsoil plow; the draining
plow.
Where fern succeeds ungrateful to the plow.
--Dryden.
2. Fig.: Agriculture; husbandry. --Johnson.
3. A carucate of land; a plowland. [Obs.] [Eng.]
Johan, mine eldest son, shall have plowes five.
--Tale of
Gamelyn.
4. A joiner's plane for making grooves; a grooving plane.
5. (Bookbinding) An implement for trimming or shaving off the
edges of books.
6. (Astron.) Same as {Charles's Wain}.
{Ice plow}, a plow used for cutting ice on rivers, ponds,
etc., into cakes suitable for storing. [U. S.]
{Mackerel plow}. See under {Mackerel}.
{Plow alms}, a penny formerly paid by every plowland to the
church. --Cowell.
{Plow beam}, that part of the frame of a plow to which the
draught is applied. See {Beam}, n., 9.
{Plow Monday}, the Monday after Twelth Day, or the end of
Christmas holidays.
{Plow staff}.
(a) A kind of long-handled spade or paddle for cleaning
the plowshare; a paddle staff.
(b) A plow handle.
{Snow plow}, a structure, usually [Lambda]-shaped, for
removing snow from sidewalks, railroads, etc., -- drawn or
driven by a horse or a locomotive.