elver

American  

[el-ver] / ˈɛl vər /

noun

1. a young eel, especially one that is migrating up a stream from the ocean.

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elver British  

/ ˈɛlvə /

noun

1. a young eel, esp one migrating up a river from the sea See also leptocephalus

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Etymology

Origin of elver

First recorded in 1630–40; variant of ellfare, literally, “eel-journey”; see origin at eel, fare

Example Sentences

The only state in the country with a significant elver catch is Maine, where fishermen have voiced concerns in recent months about the possibility of a cut to the fishery’s strict quota system.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 14, 2024

The elver quota could be increased in 2019.

From Washington Times • May 9, 2018

Fish and Wildlife Service posed as fishermen, joining groups that split motel rooms in Massachusetts for illicit elver catches.

From Washington Post • Apr. 6, 2017

Until recently many elver fishermen scraped together a living with multiple jobs: They fished for other species like lobster, worked construction, harvested periwinkles, gathered seaweed.

From Scientific American • Aug. 5, 2014

The young elver, at least a year old, which makes its way from the open sea to the estuaries and rivers.

From The Outline of Science, Vol. 1 (of 4) A Plain Story Simply Told by Thomson, J. Arthur