cavalla
cavalla Lexical Profile
cavalla Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A large, migratory marine fish of the mackerel family (Scomberomorus cavalla), commonly known as the king mackerel, found in the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
"The charter boat crew celebrated after landing a massive cavalla off the coast of Florida."
American Any of various marine fishes of the jack family (Carangidae), particularly the crevalle jack (Caranx hippos), noted for their aggressive fighting ability when hooked.
"Anglers respect the cavalla for its sheer power and stubborn resistance on light tackle."
Word Nuance & Usage
The term is used regionally, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic, as an alternate name for two distinct species: the king mackerel and the crevalle jack.
• Rhymes for cavalla
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from American Spanish 'caballa' (mackerel), which derives from 'caballo' (horse), a reference historically applied to strong, active schooling fishes akin to 'horse mackerel'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.