Cape·lin n. Zool. Either of two small marine fishes formerly classified in the family Salmonidæ, now within the smelt family Osmeridae: Mallotus villosus, very abundant on the coasts of Greenland, Iceland, Newfoundland, and Alaska; or Mallotus catervarius, found in the North Pacific. The Atlantic variety has been used as a bait for the cod. [Written also capelan and caplin.]
Note: ☞ This fish, which is like a smelt, is called by the Spaniards anchova, and by the Portuguese capelina. However the anchovy used as a food is a different fish.
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Cap·e·lan n. Zool. See Capelin.
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capelan
n : very small northern fish; forage for sea birds and marine
mammals and other fishes [syn: capelin, caplin]