capelin

[ kap-uh-lin ]

noun

1. either of two small fishes of the smelt family, Mallotus villosus, of coastal North American waters, or M. catervarius, of the North Pacific.

capelin

/ ˈkæpəlɪn /

noun

1. a small marine food fish, Mallotus villosus, occurring in northern and Arctic seas: family Osmeridae (smelts)

Word History and Origins

Origin of capelin¹

1610–20, Americanism; < Middle French capelan < Old Provençal: codfish, literally, chaplain

Word History and Origins

Origin of capelin¹

C17: from French capelan, from Old Provençal, literally: chaplain

Example Sentences

The dove-sized marbled murrelet spends most of its time in coastal waters eating krill, other invertebrates and forage fish such as herring, anchovies, smelt and capelin.

From Science Daily

Her research focuses on the microbiomes of Arctic species and how they connect to traditional Greenlandic food culture via the transference of microbial communities—from capelin fish, through seals to humans, for example.

From National Geographic

They were among a group of 11 people who were fishing for capelin on foot near the shore when they were caught off guard by the rising tide.

From Seattle Times

“We feed her as much as she wants to eat — anywhere from four to 10 herring, trout and capelin on an average day,” she said.

From Washington Post

The Canadian government’s project at Forillon was designed to yield to the coast’s natural rhythms, restore a particular spawning ground for capelin and let the waves win.

From Seattle Times