elver

American  

[el-ver] / ˈɛl vər /

noun

1. a young eel, especially one that is migrating up a stream from the ocean.

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elver British  

/ ˈɛlvə /

noun

1. a young eel, esp one migrating up a river from the sea See also leptocephalus

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Etymology

Origin of elver

First recorded in 1630–40; variant of ellfare, literally, “eel-journey”; see origin at eel, fare

Example Sentences

The elver quota remaining at current levels reflects “strong management measures we’ve instituted here in Maine,” said Patrick Keliher, commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, earlier this month.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 14, 2024

The elver quota could be increased in 2019.

From Washington Times • May 9, 2018

Fish and Wildlife Service posed as fishermen, joining groups that split motel rooms in Massachusetts for illicit elver catches.

From Washington Post • Apr. 6, 2017

Until recently many elver fishermen scraped together a living with multiple jobs: They fished for other species like lobster, worked construction, harvested periwinkles, gathered seaweed.

From Scientific American • Aug. 5, 2014

The young elver, at least a year old, which makes its way from the open sea to the estuaries and rivers.

From The Outline of Science, Vol. 1 (of 4) A Plain Story Simply Told by Thomson, J. Arthur