ˈglossan Anglo-Irish.
Also 8 glassen, 9 glassin, glashan.
[The form glashan represents Gael. glaisean ‘a coal-fish in its second or third year’, f. glas grey; the other forms seem to represent a local Irish *glasán f. the same stem. Cf. glassock.]
The coal-fish, Merlangus carbonarius.
| 1780 A. Young Tour Irel. I. 251 Some wherries come for cod, ling, glassen [etc.]. 1825 Hone Every-day Bk. I. 83 In this pond [at Port Nessock, Wigtonshire]..there are also blochin or glassin. 1864 Couch Brit. Fishes III. 84 In Ireland..when of full size they [Coalfish] are Glashan, or Glossan or Glassin. 1880 Antrim & Down Gloss., Glashan, the coal fish..Called also Blockan. |