\Trout\ (trout), n. [AS. truht, L. tructa, tructus; akin
to Gr. trw`kths a sea fish with sharp teeth, fr. trw`gein to
gnaw.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of fishes belonging
   to {Salmo}, {Salvelinus}, and allied genera of the family
   {Salmonid[ae]}. They are highly esteemed as game fishes
   and for the quality of their flesh. All the species breed
   in fresh water, but after spawning many of them descend to
   the sea if they have an opportunity.
Note: The most important European species are the river, or
      brown, trout ({Salmo fario}), the salmon trout, and the
      sewen. The most important American species are the
      brook, speckled, or red-spotted, trout ({Salvelinus
      fontinalis}) of the Northern United States and Canada;
      the red-spotted trout, or Dolly Varden (see {Malma});
      the lake trout (see {Namaycush}); the black-spotted,
      mountain, or silver, trout ({Salmo purpuratus}); the
      golden, or rainbow, trout (see under {Rainbow}); the
      blueback trout (see {Oquassa}); and the salmon trout
      (see under {Salmon}.) The European trout has been
      introduced into America.
2. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of marine fishes
   more or less resembling a trout in appearance or habits,
   but not belonging to the same family, especially the
   California rock trouts, the common squeteague, and the
   southern, or spotted, squeteague; -- called also
   {salt-water trout}, {sea trout}, {shad trout}, and {gray
   trout}. See {Squeteague}, and {Rock trout} under {Rock}.
{Trout perch} (Zo["o]l.), a small fresh-water American fish
   ({Percopsis guttatus}), allied to the trout, but
   resembling a perch in its scales and mouth.