Definitions

1. noun

a fish, particularly the American eel, that migrates upstream to spawn, or a female salmon in the spawning process

“The alewife was a crucial part of the aquatic ecosystem, supporting the food chain with its abundant population.”

2. noun

a type of fish trap or weir used to catch alewives and other fish

“The old fisherman used the traditional alewife trap to catch a bounty of fish for the local market.”