grilse

[ grils ]

/ grɪls /

a young Atlantic salmon as it returns from the sea to fresh water for the first time.

Origin of grilse

1375–1425; late Middle English grills, grilles (plural) < ?

Delightful it is to have the fish fighting all the time as only a grilse will.

Lines in Pleasant Places |William Senior
The grilse is wonderfully active and spirited, and will often give as much play as a salmon of three times his size.

Lippincott's Magazine, Volume 11, No. 26, May, 1873 |Various
It further appears, from the evidence referred to, that during these years no grilse ran up the Ness till after the month of May.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine--Vol. 54, No. 333, July 1843 |Various
Skye and West-coast grilse are short, thick, and small-headed, and proportionally more abundant.

The Ocean World: |Louis Figuier

Even after this mishap "Sarcelle" killed his grilse and lent me his rod to try for another.

Lines in Pleasant Places |William Senior

grilse

/ (ɡrɪls) /

a young salmon that returns to fresh water after one winter in the sea

C15 grilles (plural), of uncertain origin