milt

(milt)

noun

the reproductive glands of male fishes, esp. when filled with germ cells and the milky fluid containing them
such cells and fluid; fish sperm

Origin: ME milte, prob. < Scand (as in Norw milt, mjelte), altered (infl. by ON milti, spleen) < base of ON mjolk, milk

adjective

breeding: said of male fishes

transitive verb

to fertilize (fish roe) with milt

Related Forms:

See milt in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. Fish sperm, including the seminal fluid.
b. The reproductive glands of male fishes when filled with this fluid.
The spleen of certain vertebrate animals, such as cows or pigs.

transitive verb milt·ed, milt·ing, milts

To fertilize (fish roe) with milt.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English, roe, spleen

Origin: , partly from Middle Dutch milte

Origin: and partly from Old English milte, spleen; see mel-¹ in Indo-European roots

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