common tunny

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]