Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Tunny?

\Tun"ny\ (t[u^]n"n[y^]), n.; pl. {Tunnies}. [L. thunnus, thynnus, Gr. qy`nnos, qy^nos: cf. It. tonno, F. & Pr. thon.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of large oceanic fishes belonging to the Mackerel family, especially the common or great tunny ({Orcynus or Albacora thynnus}) native of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It sometimes weighs a thousand pounds or more, and is extensively caught in the Mediterranean. On the American coast it is called {horse mackerel}. See Illust. of {Horse mackerel}, under {Horse}. [Written also {thynny}.] Note: The little tunny ({Gymnosarda alletterata}) of the Mediterranean and North Atlantic, and the long-finned tunny, or albicore (see {Albicore}), are related species of smaller size.