steelhead

noun steel·head \ ˈstēl-ˌhed \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Definition of steelhead

plural steelhead also steelheads

: an anadromous rainbow trout — called also steelhead trout

Recent Examples of steelhead from the Web

Oregon and Washington will open summer steelhead fishing Wednesday on the Columbia River from the Interstate 5 bridge downriver to Buoy 10.

— bill monroe, OregonLive.com, "Columbia River spring chinook salmon run prediction downgraded," 21 May 2018
If rain doesn't spoil the river fishing this weekend, the steelhead trout fishing should be fair to good in the Northeast Ohio streams.

— cleveland.com, "D'Arcy Egan fishing report for May 3: Walleye biting, steelhead hanging around," 3 May 2018
Clear and wild, never dammed, the river is home to salmon and steelhead, and forests alive with elk and birdsong.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "Battling Scotch broom along Olympic’s Hoh River that threatens fish, forests," 27 May 2018
Over the past 10 years, environmentalists have fought to remove nearly every dam on the river and its tributaries that had been blocking the paths of salmon and steelhead trying to migrate to their spawning grounds.

— jada yuan, New York Times, "Place 13 of 52: On the Water, and Off, the Rogue River in Oregon Charms," 22 May 2018
Overall, the steelhead campaign is winding down, and anglers should carefully fight and handle fish.

— cleveland.com, "D'Arcy Egan fishing report for May 3: Walleye biting, steelhead hanging around," 3 May 2018
Recreational fishers are enjoying the first wild steelhead fishery on the river since 2009.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "8 months after farmed-fish escape, lively Atlantic salmon caught 40 miles upriver," 20 Apr. 2018
The skin-on whitefish fillets ($19) and butter-poached steelhead trout ($23) are grilled crunchy-crisp.

— carol deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Food plus fire is perfect mix at Birch + Butcher," 20 Mar. 2018
In addition to steelhead, about 600 pounds of rainbow trout were released in the East Branch of the Rocky River last Monday by the Cleveland Metroparks.

— cleveland.com, "D'Arcy Egan fishing report for May 3: Walleye biting, steelhead hanging around," 3 May 2018

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

First Known Use of steelhead

circa 1882

in the meaning defined above

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