steelhead

American  

[steel-hed] / ˈstilˌhɛd /

noun

plural

steelheads,

plural

steelhead

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

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steelhead British  

/ ˈstiːlˌhɛd /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of steelhead

First recorded in 1580–90; steel + head

Compare meaning

How does steelhead compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• steelhead vs. trout

Example Sentences

Populations of Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, Delta smelt and other species have been declining.

From Los Angeles Times

Populations of Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, Delta smelt and other species have been declining in recent years.

From Los Angeles Times

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife wrote that it is concerned about weakened protections for winter-run and spring-run chinook salmon, steelhead trout, delta smelt and longfin smelt.

From Los Angeles Times

Fish and Wildlife Service’s military conservation partner of the year for its efforts to support the recovery of several species, including the tidewater goby, coastal California gnatcatcher, the arroyo toad and southern California steelhead.

From Los Angeles Times

Delta community advocates dismissed that as a hollow attempt to sway some local people, and said they believe the project would be disastrous for local farms and the estuary’s struggling fish species, including Chinook salmon and steelhead trout.

From Los Angeles Times