parr

¹

[ pahr ]

noun

, plural parrs, (especially collectively) parr.

1. a young salmon, having dark crossbars on its sides.
2. the young of certain other fishes, as the codfish.

Parr

²

[ pahr ]

noun

1. Catherine. Catherine Parr.

Parr

¹

/ pɑː /

noun

1. ParrCatherine15121548FEnglishMISC: wife of Henry VIII Catherine. 1512–48, sixth wife of Henry VIII of England

parr

²

/ pɑː /

noun

1. a salmon up to two years of age, with dark spots and transverse bands

Word History and Origins

Origin of parr¹

First recorded in 1765–70; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of parr¹

C18: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

As they travel, the parrs, or young freshwater salmon, undergo a profound transformation called smoltification, becoming smolts able to thrive in saltwater.

From New York Times

Each year, Maine’s Department of Marine Resources and United States Fish and Wildlife Service stocks the rivers and streams with millions of salmon eggs and fry and thousands of parr and smolts.

From The New Yorker

It’s a name on a parr with Julian, for flaccid pretension.

From The Guardian

The project has stocked hundreds of thousands of juvenile salmon, which are called parr.

From Washington Times

Even in the second year after DDT enters a stream, a foraging salmon parr would have trouble finding anything more than an occasional small stonefly.

From Literature