miltern.
/ˈmɪltə/, U.S. /ˈmɪltər/ 1. A male fish, esp. at spawning time.
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the world > animals > fish > [noun] > male
milter1601
the world > animals > fish > [noun] > male > at spawning time
milter1601
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. ix. xvii. 245 If a man doe the same with the female in spawning time, hee shall have as many milters follow after her.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler viii. 164 Three Melters for one Spawner. View more context for this quotation
1718 G. Jacob Compl. Sportsman 121 The Spawner lays her Spawn, and upon it the Melter drops his Milk.
1758 R. Griffiths Descr. Thames 172 Then the Male, or Miltor, advances, and covers the Spawn with his Belly.
1883 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 281 A greater stock of ‘Spawners’ and ‘Milters’ than its tributaries have room to contain.
1991 Acta Hydrobiologica 33 87 Mature milters of carp, 12 months old, and spawners 24 months old, were obtained.
2. = milt n. 2.
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the world > animals > fish > [noun] > spawn > of male
milka1398
spawnc1430
milt1483
milker?a1500
soft roe1587
milch1673
milter1834
1834 T. Medwin Angler in Wales I. 332 At this time also the melter is more easily distinguished from the roe.
1986 B. Fussell I hear Amer. Cooking v. xviii. 351 The best schmaltz herring should contain..sperm, or ‘milt’. In old recipes, you will sometimes see this referred to as ‘milter’ or ‘milch herring’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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