chum
n.n. a small, round fish that lives in the ocean. It is often used as food for other fish or in aquariums.
n. a small, round, edible fish of the family Clupeidae, commonly used as bait or forage. Often refers to the Atlantic chub or similar species.
The fishermen caught several chum to use as bait.
The aquarium staff added a school of chum to the tank to provide a natural food source for the larger predators.
While the chum is not typically targeted by commercial fisheries, its high nutritional value makes it a vital component of the marine food web, supporting larger species like salmon and seabirds.
1675–85; of uncertain origin, possibly from cham, shortening of chambermate, or from comrade. Less likely from Welsh cymrawd (“fellow”), compare brawd (“brother”).
Originally American English, from the 1850s. Perhaps from Powhatan.
From Chinook Jargon tzum (“spotted, marked”), from Chinook.
From Russian чум (čum), from Komi-Zyrian чум (ćum) and/or Udmurt чум (ćum, “tent, shelter”).