pollack, pollock
(ˈpɒlək)
Forms: (6 Sc. podlok), 7– pollock, pollack. See also podler, podley.
[Origin obscure: Gael. pollag, Ir. pollóg, pullóg, seem to agree in form, but are applied to fresh-water fishes, entirely different from this (see pollan, powan); Ger. and Du. pollack are from Eng. The 16th c. Sc. was podlok (whence later podlo', podley, etc.). It does not appear which of the two forms podlok and pollock was the original.]
A sea-fish of genus Pollachius, allied to the cod, but having the lower jaw protruding; comprising several species used for food in Europe and America, esp. the true or whiting pollack, P. pollachius, of European seas, also called greenfish, lythe, etc.; and the green pollack or coal-fish, P. virens or carbonarius, of the North Atlantic generally.
| [1502 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. II. 148 Item, to the men that brocht podlokis to the King in the schip,..xij d. 1525 in Exc. e Libris Dom. Jac. V (Bann. Cl.) 7 Grenbans, podlokis,..crunans.] 1602 Carew Cornwall 32 Brets, Turbets, Dories,..Pollock, Mackrell, &c. a 1672 Rawlin Pollack [see rawlin]. 1769 Pennant Zool. III. 154 The Pollack... During summer they are seen in great shoals frolicking on the surface of the water. 1836 Yarrell Brit. Fishes II. 172 The Pollack is much less abundant on some parts of our coasts than the Coalfish. 1864 Couch Brit. Fishes III. 80. 1885 American X. 78 The pollack is a large fish, often running up to twenty pounds or more. 1888 Goode Amer. Fishes 354 The liver of the Pollock yields a great quantity of oil. |
† b. Applied to the Powan of Loch Lomond. Obs.
| 1827 Aikman tr. Buchanan's Hist. Scot. I. 28 One [fish] of a peculiar species and very delicious flavour, which they call the pollack [orig. i. xxiii. pollacas vocant]. |
† c. See quots. Obs.
| 1774 Pennant Tour Scot. in 1772, 271 (Hebrides) See several small whales, called here Pollacks. Ibid. 323 Whales, pollacks, and porpesses. |
d. as Comb.
| 1901 Blackw. Mag. Sept. 331/1 A couple of hours pollock-fishing. |
Hence ˈpollacking vbl. n., fishing for pollacks.
| 1821 Blackw. Mag. IX. 370 Going out pollocking with some of the wild youngsters of the west. 1886 Globe 22 July 3/1 Equipped for an evening or morning's pollacking. |