Meaning of alewife in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈeɪlwaɪf/

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  1. Noun

    alewife

    Etymology

    mid 17th century: possibly from earlier alewife ‘woman who keeps an ale house’, with reference to the fish's large belly

    Definitions

    1. flesh of shad-like fish abundant along the Atlantic coast or in coastal streams
  2. 2. shad-like food fish that runs rivers to spawn

    Examples

    • « often salted or smoked »
    • « sometimes placed in genus Pomolobus »

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