sand lance

noun

: any of several small elongate marine bony fishes (genus Ammodytes of the family Ammodytidae) that associate in large schools and remain buried in sandy beaches at ebb tide

called also sand eel, sand launce

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The warmer ocean has probably caused nutrient-rich fish like sand lance and capelin to decline. Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Dec. 2022 Of particular concern are king salmon and silver salmon, which feed on sand lance, a type of fish known to absorb algal toxins. Yereth Rosen, Anchorage Daily News, 23 June 2022 The limited sand lance research that exists cannot fully explain Scherer’s experience. BostonGlobe.com, 26 Sep. 2019 Another worrisome impact of climate change, according to the report, is that warmer waters in the Sound could see small forage fish like young shad, river herring and sand lances leave for colder waters. Gregory B. Hladky, courant.com, 5 Dec. 2019 On a good night, the four-hour shift that low tide allowed would yield several hundred pounds of sand lances. BostonGlobe.com, 26 Sep. 2019 Then, one summer about 10 years ago, the sand lances got hard to find. BostonGlobe.com, 26 Sep. 2019 If the sand lance go away, the chinook will disappear, too. Katherine Long, The Seattle Times, 16 Sep. 2018 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sand lance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sand lance was in 1776

Dictionary Entries Near sand lance

Cite this Entry

“Sand lance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sand%20lance. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

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