grunion

[ gruhn-yuhn ]

noun

1. a small, silvery food fish, Leuresthes tenuis, of southern California, that spawns at high tide in wet sand.

grunion

/ ˈɡrʌnjən /

noun

1. a Californian marine teleost fish, Leuresthes tenuis, that spawns on beaches: family Atherinidae (silversides)

Word History and Origins

Origin of grunion¹

1915–20; probably < Spanish gruñon grunter, derivative of gruñir to grunt < Latin grunnīre

Word History and Origins

Origin of grunion¹

C20: probably from Spanish gruñón a grunter

Example Sentences

If you had a skillet hot on the coals and threw in a handful of grunion you could never have a finer dish.

From Project Gutenberg