from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Tuna \Tu"na\, n. [Cf. {Tunny}.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of several species of large oceanic fishes
belonging to the mackerel family {Scombridae}, especially
the {bluefin tuna} ({Thunnus thynnus}, formerly {Orcynus
thynnus} or {Albacora thynnus}), called also the {common
tunny} or {great tunny}, a native of the Mediterranean Sea
and of temperate parts of the Atlantic Ocean. It sometimes
weighs a thousand pounds or more, and is caught
commercially in large quantity for use as food; -- also
called, especially in Britain, {tunny}. It is also one of
the favorite fishes used by the Japanese in preparing
sushi. On the American coast, especially in New England,
it is sometimes called the {horse mackerel}. Another
well-known species is the {yellowfin tuna} ({Thunnus
albacares}) of warm seas. the See Illust. of {Horse
mackerel}, under {Horse}.
Note: The little tunny ({Gymnosarda alletterata}) of the
Mediterranean and North Atlantic, and the long-finned
tunny, or albacore ({Thunnus alalunga}) (see
{Albacore}), are related species of smaller size.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
2. The bonito, 2.
[1913 Webster]
3. the meat of the tuna, used as food; -- also called {tuna
fish}.
[PJC]