grilse

A young grilse leaps up a small waterfall in the river.

Definition

Noun: - A young salmon that has returned to fresh water for the first time after spending one winter at sea.

Usage Examples

• (A young salmon returning to spawn.)
• (First-time returning salmon.)

Advanced Usage

• "Grilse run": the seasonal migration of grilse up rivers.
  • The grilse run in this river peaks in early summer. (The period when many young salmon return.)

Variants and Related Words

• Grilse (countable noun): the specific life stage; plural is (unchanged) or (rare).
  • Several grilse were observed leaping the waterfall. (Multiple individuals in this stage.)

Synonyms

• Salmon (broader term): any fish of the family Salmonidae, but is a specific stage.
• Kelt (related but distinct): a salmon that has spawned and is returning to the sea.

Related Idioms

• (No common idioms directly using ; the term is technical and specific to angling and biology.)