plural snook or snooks
1
: a large vigorous bony fish (Centropomus undecimalis of the family Centropomidae) of coastal and brackish waters of the southern U.S. to Brazil that is an important food and sport fish
2
: any of various marine fishes of the same family as the snook

snook

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a gesture of derision made by thumbing the nose

Examples of snook 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.
Noun
Many Florida game fish, for example, especially snook and tarpon, use mangrove estuaries as nurseries. Michael Adno, Scientific American, 25 June 2024 In the past decade, however, researchers have found those juvenile snook and tarpon in marshes where there are no mangroves, including spots as far north as South Carolina. Michael Adno, Scientific American, 25 June 2024 Both casual and seasoned snorkelers can observe snook, snapper, sheepshead, nurse sharks, red sponges, and more marine life. Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2024 Bigger fish — jacks, snook — were swimming in spirals or upside down in the shallow waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Patricia Mazzei, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for snook 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Dutch snoek pike, snook

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1697, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of snook was in 1697

Dictionary Entries Near snook

Cite this Entry

“Snook.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snook. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on snook

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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