snoek

Meaning

1. (South-Africa) An edible fish, Thyrsites atun, native to South African (Cape), South American and Australian waters, often smoked or salted.
2. (South-Africa) The queen mackerel, Scomberomorus lineolatus.
3. (South-Africa) Any of several species of barracuda.

Synonyms

barracouta

barracuda

great barracuda

Etymology

Cognate with Dutch: zeesnoek

In summary

Borrowed from Afrikaans snoek, from Dutch snoek, from Middle Dutch snoec, from Old Dutch *snuoc. Some senses come from or are influenced by Dutch zeesnoek (“barracuda”, literally “sea pike”), a word that Van Riebeeck applied to the Thyrsites atun.