grayling
grayling Lexical Profile
grayling Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A freshwater fish of the salmon family (Thymallinae), native to the cold rivers and lakes of the Northern Hemisphere, renowned among anglers for its silvery-gray scales and exceptionally large dorsal fin.
"We spent the afternoon fly-fishing for grayling in the clear, icy waters of the mountain stream."
British A widely distributed Eurasian butterfly of the brush-footed family (Nymphalidae), noted for its highly camouflaged grayish-brown underwings and prominent eyespots.
"The grayling is perfectly adapted to blend in with the rocky heathland when it rests with its wings closed."
• Rhymes for grayling
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Late Middle English, formed by combining 'gray' and the diminutive or qualitative suffix '-ling', referring directly to the silvery-gray coloration of the fish.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.