salmon
[sam-uh n]
- a marine and freshwater food fish, Salmo salar, of the family Salmonidae, having pink flesh, inhabiting waters off the North Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America near the mouths of large rivers, which it enters to spawn.
- landlocked salmon.
- any of several salmonoid food fishes of the genus Oncorhynchus, inhabiting the North Pacific.
- a light yellowish-pink.
Show More
- of the color salmon.
Show More
Origin of salmon
1200–50; Middle English salmoun, samoun < Anglo-French (Old French saumon) < Latin salmōn-, stem of salmō
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
roseflamingmaroonglowingcardinalcrimsoncoralwinecantaloupebittersweettitianpeachapricotsalmoncarrottangerineflushblushfuchsiapinkExamples from the Web for salmon
Contemporary Examples
The state of Idaho paid a bounty hunter to kill wolves in the Salmon River country.
The salmon is presented atop a mound of sautéed vegetables: mushrooms, peppers, squash, onions, leafy greens, and herbs.
Non-fish eaters should attend the arts and crafts fair or catch a live show at the Salmon Jam.
For anyone feeling guilty from eating all that salmon, you can sign up for the AK Salmon Runs road race on the second day.
Opt for salmon, which has lots of omega-3 fatty acids that strengthen brainpower.
Historical Examples
Now this Salmon, according to the genealogy, was David's great-grandfather.
A Theological-Political Treatise [Part II]Benedict of Spinoza
Yet its use is absolutely indispensable to the salmon angler on the Spey.
Camps, Quarters and Casual PlacesArchibald Forbes
Have ready a small tureen of lobster sauce to accompany the salmon.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
Heat it over again, and send it to table with salmon or fresh cod.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
The weir had been erected to pen the Chenook salmon from going further up-stream.
American NotesRudyard Kipling
salmon
- any soft-finned fish of the family Salmonidae, esp Salmo salar of the Atlantic and Oncorhynchus species (sockeye, Chinook, etc) of the Pacific, which are important food fishes. They occur in cold and temperate waters and many species migrate to fresh water to spawn
- Australian any of several unrelated fish, esp the Australian salmon
- short for salmon pink
Show More
Word Origin
C13: from Old French saumon, from Latin salmō; related to Late Latin salar trout
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for salmon
n.
early 13c., from Anglo-French samoun, Old French salmun (Modern French saumon), from Latin salmonem (nominative salmo) "a salmon," probably originally "leaper," from salire "to leap" (see salient (adj.)), though some dismiss this as folk etymology. Another theory traces it to Celtic. Replaced Old English læx, from PIE *lax, the more usual word for the fish (see lox). In reference to a color, from 1786.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper