capelin

noun

cap·​e·​lin ˈka-p(ə-)lən How to pronounce capelin (audio)
: a small northern sea fish (Mallotus villosus) of the smelt family

Examples of capelin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There, the bird joined bald eagles on nearby rocky cliffs to feast on spawning capelin, a type of small, oily fish that lives in northern waters. — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Jan. 2025 Puffins are carnivorous birds that primarily eat small fish, including herring, hake, sand eels, and capelin. — Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Canadian French capelan, from French, codfish, from Old Occitan, chaplain, codfish, from Medieval Latin cappellanus chaplain — more at chaplain

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of capelin was in 1620

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Cite this Entry

“Capelin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capelin. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on capelin

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about capelin

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