Bo*ni"to (&?;), n.; pl.
Bonitoes (&?;). [Sp. & Pg. bonito, fr. Ar.
bainīt and bainīth.] [Often incorrectly written
bonita.] (Zoöl.) 1. A large
tropical fish (Orcynus pelamys) allied to the tunny. It is about
three feet long, blue above, with four brown stripes on the sides. It is
sometimes found on the American coast.
2. The skipjack (Sarda Mediterranea) of the
Atlantic, an important and abundant food fish on the coast of the United
States, and (S. Chilensis) of the Pacific, and other related
species. They are large and active fishes, of a blue color with black
oblique stripes.
3. The medregal (Seriola fasciata), an
edible fish of the southern of the United States and the West
Indies.
4. The cobia or crab eater (Elacate canada),
an edible fish of the Middle and Southern United States.
