grunion

[ gruhn-yuhn ]

noun

1. a small, silvery food fish, Leuresthes tenuis, of southern California, that spawns at high tide in wet sand.

grunion

/ ˈɡrʌnjən /

noun

1. a Californian marine teleost fish, Leuresthes tenuis, that spawns on beaches: family Atherinidae (silversides)

Word History and Origins

Origin of grunion¹

1915–20; probably < Spanish gruñon grunter, derivative of gruñir to grunt < Latin grunnīre

Word History and Origins

Origin of grunion¹

C20: probably from Spanish gruñón a grunter

Example Sentences

Now that many of you have spoken, it seems clear that my recently published list of 101 best California experiences is unacceptably short of castles, train rides, ghost towns, underground gardens, pixie margaritas and grunion runs.

From Los Angeles Times

Now that many of you have spoken, it seems clear that my recently published list of 101 best California experiences is unacceptably short of castles, train rides, ghost towns, underground gardens, pixie margaritas and grunion runs.

From Los Angeles Times

Grunion, a submarine that was lost at sea.

From New York Times

One recent study found that even quite dim light alters where plovers roost and grunion spawn.

From Washington Post

Yet another 2021 study, led by Longcore, showed similarly low thresholds of light on stretches of California beach can prevent plovers from roosting and fish called grunion from throwing themselves ashore to spawn.

From Scientific American