chain pickerel

noun

: a large greenish-black pickerel (Esox niger) with dark markings along the sides that is common in quiet waters of eastern North America

Examples of chain pickerel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Learn More › Northern pike, chain pickerel, and muskies are all members of the same family. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 18 Apr. 2024 Northern pike start to spawn in early April when water temperature is hovering in the high 30s and low 40s, while the chain pickerel typically show up a few weeks later when the water warms up. Ella Nilsen, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024 The Sparrows Point resident reeled in a 24-inch chain pickerel, which is a freshwater fish part of the pike family, according to the department’s March 5 news release. Makiya Seminera, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 That would be the chain pickerel, a smaller cousin to the northern pike that inhabits many of our regional waters and is very prevalent on Eastern Shore rivers and mill ponds, along with a host of Virginia and Pennsylvania waters. Anthony Maluso, Baltimore Sun, 28 Jan. 2024 His catches this past week consisted of peacock bass up to 5.5 pounds, snook, and largemouth bass to six pounds, chain pickerel, clown knife fish, grass carp and Mayan cichlids. Alan Sherman, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Range and Distribution of Muskie vs Pike Northern pike and muskies are members of the Esox family of fish, which also includes chain pickerel and grass pickerel. Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 19 July 2023 Likewise, species such as pike and chain pickerel often attack a shiner from the side—a move known as T-boning. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 10 May 2023 Compared to their cousins the chain pickerel and northern pike, even small, young muskies simply don’t feed as voraciously. Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 25 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

from the markings resembling chains on the sides

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chain pickerel was in 1878

Dictionary Entries Near chain pickerel

Cite this Entry

“Chain pickerel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chain%20pickerel. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!