noun
- plural of eulachon; small, silvery fish of the smelt family found in North Pacific waters, valued for their oil and as food
Usage: Also spelled 'eulachon' or 'oolachon'; Often used in the context of Indigenous Pacific Northwest cuisine and trade
Examples
- The eulachans were traditionally rendered for their rich oil by Pacific Northwest tribes.
- Eulachans arrive in rivers each spring, providing an important seasonal food source.
- The dried eulachans were a valuable trade commodity along the coast.
- Eulachans are so oily they can be dried and burned like candles.
- Indigenous peoples have harvested eulachans for thousands of years.