grilse
(grɪls)
Forms: sing. and collective pl. α. 5 grill(e)s, grillez (AF.), grils(s, griles, girles, girlss, 6 grylse, grylss, 5– grilse. β. 5 girsilles, 6 grissillis. γ. 5 ? gulse, 7 gils, 8–9 gilse. δ. Anglo-Irish 8–9 grawls (also sing. graul), 9 graulse.
[Of unknown origin; the β forms have the appearance of being nearest to the original; cf. OF. grisle grey. The δ forms may perh. represent a Scandinavian synonym; cf. Sw. grålax (lit. grey salmon).]
The name given to a young salmon on its first return to the river from the sea, and retained during the same year.
| α 1417 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) I. 55 In 8 grills salsis..4s. 1469 Sc. Acts Jas. III, c. 13 (1814) II. 96/2 Salmonde grilss and trowtis. 1482 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 221 Small fyssh called Grilles, not havyng the perfite lenght of a Samon. [1482–3 Act 22 Edw. IV, c. 2 Le graund Salmon par soy mesme saunz mixture ovesqe icell dascuns grillez ou Salmons rumpez lez ventrez. Et que toutz petitz pessons appellez grillez soient pakkez par soy mesmez soulement saunz ascun mixtur.] 1494 Acta Dom. Conc. (1839) 345/1, ix barrellis of salmond & a barell of girlss ȝerly. 1495 Act 11 Henry VII, c. 23 The greate Salmon by it self without medeling of any Grilles..and that all small fisshe called Grilles should be packed by theym self only without any medlyng. 1527 Extracts Aberd. Reg. (1844) I. 120 Ane barrell of grylse. 1549 Banff Burgh Court Bk. 14 May in Cramond Ann. Banff (1896) I. 23 Personis sall not tak na kynd of fysche grylss and salmond at thair awne hand. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj., Stat. Robt. I 22 That na man take fisch or take Salmond or salmon Trouts, Grilsis, in forbidden time. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet Let. iv, One or two salmon, or grilses, as the smaller sort are termed. 1867 F. Francis Angling ix. (1880) 309 The salmon's return to the river after spawning as a grilse. 1868 Peard Water-Farm. v. 55 Three or four months later, the fish re-enter their own river as grilse, weighing from three to nine pounds each. |
| β 1469 Sc. Acts Jas. III (1597) c. 37 Salmond, Girsilles and trowtes. 1597 Compt Buik D. Wedderburne (S.H.S.) 98, I tynt xxj lib. on thame, they being all grissillis & he selling me thame for Salmond. |
| γ 1493 Extracts Aberd. Reg. (1844) I. 49 Johannes Blak,..d. barrel grilse..Johannes Thomsone, d. barrel gulse. 1612 Naworth Househ. Bks. (Surtees) 29 A salmon gils and iiij troutes. c 1817 Hogg Tales & Sk. I. 273 Shoal of gilses. |
| δ 1726 Nat. Hist. Irel. 190 Those that escaped of the former years return with the young ones, and are called full salmons; whereas those of the same year are small, and are called grawls or half salmon. 1780 A. Young Tour Irel. I. 141 The young salmon are called grawls. 1824 Mactaggart Gallovid. Encycl., Graulse, a young salmon. 1851 Newland Erne 33 note, Graul, called in the north a grilse..a salmon that has made but one sea voyage. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Grawls. |
b. transf. A child.
Anglo-Irish.
| 1825 T. C. Croker Fairy Leg. S. Irel. (1828) II. 236 Judy and myself and the poor little grawls will be turned out. |
c. attrib., as
grilse-fly,
grilse-rod,
grilse-time.
| 1769 Pennant Zool. III. 242 The height of Gilse time. 1885 E. D. Gerard Waters Hercules xxiii, A grilse-fly. 1885 Black Wh. Heather iii, He..was rather proud that so slight a grilse-rod..should..have overmastered so big a beast. |
Hence
ˈgrilsing vbl. n., the taking of grilse.
| attrib. 1867 F. Francis Angling ix. (1880) 339 A light grilsing weapon. |