pickerel

noun

pick·​er·​el ˈpi-k(ə-)rəl How to pronounce pickerel (audio)
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:
(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

Examples of pickerel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Guys are kayaking and getting good catches of crappie, bass and pickerel along with the occasional lethargic snakehead. Jim Gronaw, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2024 A lot is going on and there is always abundant pickerel in the tidal flows and throw in the annual white perch and shad runs. Jim Gronaw, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2024 More Americans have access to pickerel, but a 25-incher would be a giant. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 18 Apr. 2024 Enough northern pike and chain pickerel are still spawning with each other to keep those fish lines strong; currently the fish hybridization happens at the tail end of the pike spawning season and the very beginning of the pickerel’s mating. Ella Nilsen, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pickerel 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pickerel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pikerel, diminutive of pike

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of pickerel was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near pickerel

Cite this Entry

“Pickerel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pickerel. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

pickerel

noun
pick·​er·​el ˈpik-(ə-)rəl How to pronounce pickerel (audio)
plural pickerel or pickerels
1
: either of two fishes resembling but smaller than the related pike
2

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