Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1701-1885, 1998-1999
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GRILSE, n. Also grailse, †grilsh, †grilch, †grulse (wm.Sc. 1868 Laird of Logan 458); gilse (Dmf. 1723 W. McFarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 383; Bwk.2 1950). Also in n.Eng. dial.
1. The name given to a young salmon on its first return from the sea to fresh water; erroneously regarded by some as a distinct species. Coll. pl. grilse, †pl. grilses, gilses. Orig. Sc. and n.Eng. dial. now adopted as Eng. Cf. Grawl.Sc. 1701 J. Brand Descr. Orkney 32:
Within a few Miles also of the West end of the Mainland is the Loch of Stennis; . . . some Trouts, and Salmon-Gilses are found in it.Sc. 1739 Caled. Mercury (8 May):
There is no Price put upon the Salmon fishing, which pays 20 l. Scots of Money, 10 Salmon and 10 Grilses.Sc. 1753 W. Maitland Hist. Edb. 508:
The Harbour of this Place, till within these few Years, abounded with a Variety of Fish, viz. Grilches, Trouts, Whitings.Bwk. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 IV. 196–197:
The Tweed produces a great quantity of salmon, gilses, and whitling trout.Rxb. 1798 R. Douglas Agric. Rxb. 14:
A distinct species [of salmon], called here grilse, and of sea-trouts, here called whitlings.Sc. 1803 Trans. Highl. Soc. II. 403:
In the months of July and August, these salmon fry come up gilses to the same rivers which they left when smoults in May.Sc. ?1816 Scott Letters (Cent. ed.) IV. 259:
We are catching young gilses faster than people care to eat them.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet Letter iv.:
One or two salmon, or grilses, as the smaller sort are termed.Sc. 1835 T. T. Stoddart Art Angling 143:
We have caught . . . sea-trout and small grilses in the neighbourhood of Cramond.s.Sc. 1885 W. Scrope Salmon Fishing 57:
By the term Gilse I mean young Salmon that have only been once to sea.m.Sc. 1998 Lillias Forbes Turning a Fresh Eye 7:
The lichtsome loup o grailse, bairn's croon o curlin hair
Flaught'rin afore the win', jinkin its ilka jawp. Sc. 1999 Herald 28 Aug 15:
The river, he said, was down to its bones, and the only fish moving were grilse under cover of darkness.
2. Fig. “An unwieldy little child” (Sc. 1818 Sawers, grilsh). Cf. Grulsh.
[O.Sc. has grils(e), grels, etc., from 1398; late Mid.Eng. grills, 1417: of unknown origin. Gils is found in Eng. 1612. The loss of r may have originated in the met. form girls(e) which is found in O.Sc. from 1494.]
