Snook

/snʊk/ noun

Definition

A gesture of disrespect made by thumbing your nose, or a type of saltwater fish found in coastal waters.

Etymology

The gesture meaning comes from 19th-century British slang with uncertain origin, possibly from Dutch 'snuiken.' The fish name is of unknown origin, possibly from American indigenous languages.

Kelly Says

The fish called snook (Centropomus undecimalis) is so popular with fishermen in Florida that scientists study their stress responses to catch-and-release fishing—they're basically using one species to understand angling's ecological impact!

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