Search Dictionary
Definition of eulachon
eulachon
/ˈjuːləkɑːn/
eu · la · chon
Plural:eulachons
eulachon Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
eulachon Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
North American A small, anadromous species of smelt (Thaleichthys pacificus) native to the Pacific coast of North America, historically prized by Indigenous peoples for its exceptionally high fat content which was extracted as grease or used as a primitive candle.
Example
"Every spring, several Indigenous tribes of the Pacific Northwest would migrate to the rivers to harvest the returning eulachon."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for eulachonWord Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into English in the early 19th century from Chinook Jargon 'ulakan', which was adapted from a Coast Salishan language word, such as Halkomelem 'yúwaɬen' (meaning 'smelt' or 'eulachon').
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Eulachon. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/eulachon