Tuna

Tuna

Noun · /ˈtjuːnə/ · a large fast-moving ocean fish; the flesh of that fish as food

Definition

Tuna is a large, commercially important saltwater fish of the family Scombridae, known for its speed, power, and long migratory range. Species include bluefin, yellowfin, skipjack, and albacore. As a food, tuna refers to the flesh of this fish — eaten fresh, grilled, or most famously preserved in cans. The word also appears attributively: tuna steak, tuna salad, tuna melt.

Origin

Tuna entered English in the early twentieth century from American Spanish atun, which in turn derives from Spanish aton, itself from Arabic al-tun. The Arabic root may trace to a Mediterranean word for the fish, possibly connected to Greek thynnos. Before tuna became common in British English, the fish was often called tunny — still used in some contexts today, particularly for bluefin tuna.