steelhead

[ steel-hed ]

noun

, plural steel·heads, (especially collectively) steel·head.

1. a silvery rainbow trout that migrates to the sea before returning to fresh water to spawn.

steelhead

/ ˈstiːlˌhɛd /

noun

1. a silvery North Pacific variety of the rainbow trout ( Salmo gairdneri )

Word History and Origins

Origin of steelhead¹

First recorded in 1580–90; steel + head

Example Sentences

For the first time in 54 years, Barbara Brown won’t be fishing for summer-run steelhead on the Grande Ronde River in southwest Washington State.

From Outside Online

In fact, most studies estimate the direct lethal effects of that manner of fishing on steelhead to be around 10 percent.

From Outside Online

Unlike any of my bank-account passwords, the feeling of a steelhead grabbing my swung fly and immediately launching itself airborne cannot and will never be forgotten.

From Outside Online

I am finished letting my ego write checks that wild steelhead can’t cash.

From Outside Online

More than $17 billion spent to restore salmon and steelhead in the Snake River and its tributaries in the Pacific Northwest has largely fallen short, he said.

From Washington Post

The other claim that the larger scales of the rainbow is a distinguishing feature from the steelhead is not founded on facts.

From Project Gutenberg

As a game fish the steelhead enjoys a high reputation in the Pacific States.

From Project Gutenberg

There is no more beautiful thing in the wilderness world than a steelhead trout in action.

From Project Gutenberg

The Rogue and the Umpqua flooded and the great steelhead began to ascend their smaller tributaries.

From Project Gutenberg

Steelhead and German brown trout will also be found in the river.

From Project Gutenberg