▪ I. parr1, par
(pɑː(r))
[app. of Scottish origin; derivation unknown.]
1. A young salmon before it becomes a smolt; distinguished by the parallel transverse bands on its side; = brandling n. 2.
Formerly supposed to be a distinct species.
| 1715–22 Pennecuik Descr. Tweeddale Wks. (1815) 107 Salmo salmulus, Samlet, or Par. a 1771 Smollett Ode to Leven-Water, The scaly brood In myriads cleave thy crystal flood;..The salmon, monarch of the tide, The ruthless pike, intent on war; The silver eel and motled par. 1820 Scott Abbot xxiv, Par, which some suppose infant salmon. 1827 ― Jrnl. 9 May, Warm dispute whether par are or are not salmon trout. 1844 Zoologist II. 527 note, Brandling-trout, fingerling, par, smolt, &c. all denote the same fish. 1862 Act 25 & 26 Vict. c. 97 §2 ‘Salmon’ shall..include..bull trout, smolts, parr, and any other migratory fish of the salmon kind. 1868 Peard Water-farm. x. 103 The ova deposited in our boxes have long since become parr. |
2. A young coal-fish or black cod, less than a year old (see billet3); a sillock. local.
| 1769 Pennant Brit. Zool. III. 153 Coal Fish, The fry..are called at Scarborough Parrs, and when a year old, Billets. About nine or ten years ago such a glut of Parrs visited that part, that for several weeks it was impossible to dip a pail into the sea without taking some. 1832 J. Cole Scarborough Guide 108 The principal fish brought to Scarborough for sale are..herrings, whiting, parr, billits, colefish. |
3. attrib. and Comb., as parr-fishing; parr-marks, the dark transverse bands which characterize the salmon in the parr stage; parr-tail, an artificial fly used in salmon fishing.
| 1889 Daily News 9 July 5/3 What better means of diminishing the population of salmon can be invented than free *parr⁓fishing? |
| 1867 F. Francis Angling ix. (1880) 305 With bands or marks on the sides known as *parr-marks. |
| 1866 Crichton Ramble in Arcades 129 Though we spun the *parr-tail assiduously we did not succeed in moving one [salmon]. 1867 F. Francis Angling v. (1880) 294. |
▪ II. parr2 dial.
Also parre, par.
(See quot.)
| 1847 Halliwell, Parre, a young leveret (Devon). [Thence in Webster, etc.] |