pickerel

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noun pick·er·el \ ˈpi-k(ə-)rəl \

Definition of pickerel

plural pickerel or pickerels

1 a dialectal, chiefly British :a young or small pike

b :either of two fishes resembling but smaller than the related northern pike:

(1) :chain pickerel

(2) :one (Esox americanus) of eastern North America having green or red fins and a black bar below and slanting away from the eye

2 :walleye 3

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Recent Examples of pickerel from the Web

Visitors to the preserve trundle along a wobbly wooden boardwalk, where they are welcomed by a breathtaking view of a serene, blue lake framed by stands of native flora: swamp loosestrife, pickerel weed, lotus flowers, swamp milkweed and buttonbush.

— james f. mccarty, cleveland.com, "Geauga County's Snow Lake Preserve is environmental keystone of Cuyahoga Wetlands: (photos, videos)," 6 Aug. 2017
Zaremba and Drew Gregg of Davie caught 50 largemouths up to 5 pounds, three peacocks, six chain pickerel, Mayan cichlids and lots of oscars on a morning trip in the L-35 Canal along Interstate 595.

— steve waters, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Dolphin offshore, bass in the Everglades," 30 May 2017
Some other species found are largemouth bass, brown bullhead, white catfish, chain pickerel, brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout, according to ctfishfinder.com.

— frank cohen, courant.com, "For A Small State, Connecticut Rich In Fishing Spots," 17 May 2017
Other fish include pickerel, white perch, yellow perch, sunfish and bullhead.

— frank cohen, courant.com, "For A Small State, Connecticut Rich In Fishing Spots," 17 May 2017
Alan Zaremba reported good catches of bass 1-3 pounds, oscars, chain pickerel and panfish in the finger canals along the west side of U.S. Highway 27.

— steve waters, Sun-Sentinel.com, "South Florida fishing report: Blackfin tunas offshore, dolphin in the Keys," 11 May 2017
Last week, Zaremba guided Al Alerman of Pembroke Pines to 18 largemouth bass up to 4.5 pounds, five chain pickerel, oscars and Mayan cichlids on a morning trip on the west side of U.S. 27.

— steve waters, Sun-Sentinel.com, "It's a great time to take kids fishing in the Everglades," 25 Apr. 2017
The 6,400-acre waterway, located halfway between Shreveport and Monroe, is generously stocked with largemouth and striped bass, bluegill, channel catfish, sac-à-lait, pickerel and bream.

— louisiana travel, Smithsonian, "Explore More Louisiana State Parks.," 7 Mar. 2017
All the species of fish — trout, whitefish, pickerel, herring, suckers — faced the heart, surrounding and protecting it.

— peter kujawinski, New York Times, "Guardians of a Vast Lake, and a Refuge for Humanity," 7 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pickerel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pickerel

Middle English pikerel, diminutive of pike

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

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PICKEREL Defined for English Language Learners

pickerel

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noun

Definition of pickerel for English Language Learners

: a small North American fish that lives in rivers and streams

PICKEREL Defined for Kids

pickerel

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noun pick·er·el \ ˈpi-kə-rəl , ˈpik-rəl \

Definition of pickerel for Students

plural pickerel or pickerels

:a freshwater fish that resembles but is smaller than the related pike

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Spanish Central: Translation of pickerel Nglish: Translation of pickerel for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pickerel

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pickerel

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