- Tuna
- Tuna Tu"na, n. [Cf. {Tunny}.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) any one of several species of large oceanic
fishes belonging to the mackerel family {Scombridae},
especially the {bluefin tuna} ({Thunnus thynnus}, formerly
{Orcynus thynnus} or {Albacora thynnus}), called also the
{common tunny} or {great tunny}, a native of the
Mediterranean Sea and of temperate parts of the Atlantic
Ocean. It sometimes weighs a thousand pounds or more, and
is caught commercially in large quantity for use as food;
-- also called, especially in Britain, {tunny}. It is also
one of the favorite fishes used by the Japanese in
preparing sushi. On the American coast, especially in New
England, it is sometimes called the {horse mackerel}.
Another well-known species is the {yellowfin tuna}
({Thunnus albacares}) of warm seas. the See Illust. of
{Horse mackerel}, under {Horse}.
Note: The little tunny ({Gymnosarda alletterata}) of the Mediterranean and North Atlantic, and the long-finned tunny, or albacore ({Thunnus alalunga}) (see {Albacore}), are related species of smaller size. [1913 Webster +PJC]
2. The bonito, 2. [1913 Webster]
3. the meat of the tuna, used as food; -- also called {tuna fish}. [PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
