Forms: 5 vmbre, 6– umber (6–7 vmber), 7, 9 humber, 7–8 omber; 7 omer, 9 dial. oumer. [a. OF. umbre, ombre (also humble; mod.F. umble, omble; Sp. umbla, ombla, Pg. umbla), or ad. L. umbra UMBRA2.] = GRAYLING.

1

1496.  Fysshynge w. Angle (1883), 23. The grayllynge by a nother name callyd vmbre is a delycyous fysshe to mannys mouthe.

2

a. 1500.  Leland, Itin. (1769), V. 68. In the Lake be Umbers, yn Walsche Cangans, and great Store of Pykes, wherof many cum into Wy River.

3

1615.  Markham, Pleas. Princes, iv. (1635), 23. The Humber haunts the clayie Rivers of hie Countries. Ibid., vi. 32. The Barbell, or Grayling, which some call the Vmber, are very crafty Fishes.

4

1662.  R. Venables, Exper. Angler, v. 55. The Umber is generally taken with the same baits as the Trout.

5

a. 1672.  Willughby, Hist. Pisc. (1686), Tab. N. 8. Thymus et Thymalus Salv[ian], a Greyling or Omer. Eboracensibus.

6

1740.  R. Brookes, Art of Angling, I. ix. 33. The Grayling or Umber … is in proportion neither so broad nor so thick as a Trout.

7

1758.  Descr. Thames, 178. Next to the Trout I place the Graylin or Umber, which are thought by some to differ.

8

1817–22.  Encycl. Metrop. (1845), XIV. 585/1. The Grayling, or Umber, spawns in May, and is in the best condition in November.

9

1853.  J. Jackson (title), The Practical Fly-Fisher, more particularly for Grayling or Umber.

10