mackerel sky


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mackerel sky

n. Chiefly Northeastern US
A sky covered with many small cirrocumulus or altocumulus clouds, resembling the markings found on a mackerel. Also called regionally buttermilk sky.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

mackerel sky

n
(Physical Geography) a sky patterned with cirrocumulus or small altocumulus clouds
[from the similarity to the pattern on a mackerel's back]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

mack′erel sky′


n.
a sky marked by cirrocumulus or altocumulus clouds scattered like the markings on a mackerel's back.
[1660–70]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

mackerel sky

- One with rows of white fluffy clouds resembling the pattern on a mackerel's back.
See also related terms for rows.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.mackerel sky - a sky filled with rows of cirrocumulus or small altocumulus cloudsmackerel sky - a sky filled with rows of cirrocumulus or small altocumulus clouds
sky - the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

mackerel sky

n (→ Himmel mmit) → Schäfchenwolken
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
References in periodicals archive ?
Mesmerising - a mackerel sky above the Tyne Bridge in January
Mackerel sky over Redcar, picture by Carl Shell, of Saltburn |
The green color becomes more obvious through larger telescopes at high powers, while the nebula's texture has been compared to the ripply mottled clouds of a mackerel sky. The nebula's northern regions weave an intricate tapestry of bright and dark streamers and tendrils that reveal more complexity as you make M42 an oft-visited friend.
My fave restaurants is Mackerel Sky, in New Street.