Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
grilse

grilse

9.9
A young salmon that returns to a river after its first time at sea
  • noun
  • /ɡrɪls/
  • UK
translation icon : grilse
  • Many grilses are caught during the fishing season.
  • grilse and salmon
  • large grilse

Examples

  • Biologists studied the migration patterns of the grilse in the northern streams.

  • The grilse swam upstream to spawn.

  • The fisherman was excited to catch a grilse during the early summer run.

  • After spending a year at sea, the grilse returned to the river to spawn.

  • During our fishing trip, we were thrilled to catch a grilse that had just returned from the sea.

  • The river was teeming with grilse, making it the perfect time for salmon fishing.

  • Many anglers prefer to target grilse because they are often more aggressive than older salmon.

Surface Forms

grilse singular
grilses plural

Etymology

Grilse probably comes from a French word like grise meaning 'grey', because young salmon often look grey when they first return from the sea. That's why grilse is the name for a young salmon that comes back to the river after its first sea trip.