chum salmon

American  

noun

1. a Pacific salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, occurring from southern California to Alaska and off the coasts of Japan and Korea, fished commercially and for sport.

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Etymology

Origin of chum salmon

First recorded in 1905–10; chum, from Chinook Jargon cam “mixed colors, spotted, striped,” from Lower Chinook c'ə́m(·) “variegated”

Example Sentences

In 2022, 80% fewer king salmon returned to the Yukon River than the 30-year average and 90% fewer chum salmon returned to western Alaska.

From Science Daily • Dec. 3, 2024

Hood Canal summer chum salmon runs dwindled to under 1,000 fish in the 1990s, spurring its listing under the Endangered Species Act.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 6, 2024

Sockeye and chum salmon were commonly found in temperatures down to just a few degrees above freezing, while coho and steelhead were absent from the coldest areas.

From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2024

It’s the time of year — this is the season of falling leaves, elk mating-cry, the chum salmon.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 18, 2022

All day, chum salmon announced their arrival with chaotic splashing in the river, but the boats remained tied up, some with nets piled inside.

From Washington Post • Sep. 23, 2022