pickerel

From Middle English pikerel; equivalent to pike +‎ -rel.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɪk(ə)ɹəl/

pickerel (plural pickerel or pickerels)

A pickerel.

1. A freshwater fish of the genus Esox.
   • 1603, John Florio, transl.; Michel de Montaigne, chapter 37, in The Essayes, […], book II, printed at London: By Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821:

     I see, that the Pickrell-fish, and the Swallowes live well by her lawes.

2. (Canada) Walleye, A species of gamefish, Sander vitreus, native to the Northern U.S. and Canada with pale, reflective eyes.
3. A wading bird, the dunlin.

• The plural ending in "s" refers especially to multiple varieties (e.g when speaking of multiple species), whereas the other is preferred when speaking of multiple fish of the same kind.

• pike