Salmonid
/ˈsæl.mə.nɪd/noun
A fish of the salmon family, including salmon, trout, char, whitefish, and related species.
Did you know?“Salmonid” is a modern zoological family name built from the ancient word for salmon, showing how scientific Latin often turns old everyday words into formal taxonomic labels.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*s(e)l-
“A proposed ancient root connected by some scholars to jumping or leaping, though the exact prehistory of the fish word is uncertain.”
Latin
Latin
salmo
“Salmon, a leaping fish.”
Late Latin
Latin
salmon-
“The stem used in later learned formations referring to salmon.”
19th Century
New Latin
Salmonidae
“The zoological family name for salmon and related fishes.”
Modern English
English
salmonid
“A member of the salmon family.”
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