Meaning:
A Mackerel sky is a sky that is streaked with rows of small white clouds
which resemble the pattern of scales on a mackerel's back.
Background:
There was no idiomatic dexterity involved in the derivation of this phrase;
mackerel skies do look like the markings on a mackerel's back.
The term has been in use since the 17th century and was first out into print
by the appropriately named Thomas Sprat, in The History of the Royal-Society
of London, for the improving of natural knowledge, 1667:
Let Water'd signifie a Sky that has many high thin and small Clouds,
looking almost like water'd Tabby, called in some places a Mackeril Sky.
Meteorologically speaking, a mackerel sky is created when mid-level moisture
is trapped between dry air below and cold dry above.
The compressing of the cloud between the two air pockets forms the
characteristic rippled formation.
- www.phrases.org.uk [edited]
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When it comes to clouds, I knew nimbus and cirrus and had always wondered what
to call those arrayed like fish scales. Also learned the word 'sprat' above.
Wonderful!
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