grilse

[ grils ]

noun

, plural grils·es, (especially collectively) grilse.

1. a young Atlantic salmon as it returns from the sea to fresh water for the first time.

grilse

/ ɡrɪls /

noun

1. a young salmon that returns to fresh water after one winter in the sea

Word History and Origins

Origin of grilse¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English grills, grilles (plural); further origin unknown

Word History and Origins

Origin of grilse¹

C15 grilles (plural), of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

The group says young salmon who spent only one winter at sea before returning to the river, called grilse, fared especially poorly last year.

From Seattle Times

Many of them returned in 1959 to give large runs of grilse to the native stream.

From Literature

Fishermen remarked on the extreme scarcity of grilse — the youngest group of returning fish.

From Literature

At the sampling trap in the estuary of the Miramichi the count of grilse was only a fourth as large in 1959 as the year before.

From Literature

Salm′on-peal, -peel, a grilse under 2 lb.;

From Project Gutenberg