1. a salmon or sea trout that has spawned and is in a weakened condition
Usage: chiefly British and Scottish; ichthyology

Examples

• The kelt was easily identified by its thin body and faded coloring after spawning.
• Anglers often release kelts back into the river to recover their strength.
• A kelt differs from a fresh salmon in appearance and vigor.
• The fishery manager monitored the population of kelts in the stream.