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.
1496. Fysshynge w. Angle (1883), 23. The grayllynge by a nother name callyd vmbre is a delycyous fysshe to mannys mouthe.
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.
1615. Markham, Pleas. Princes, iv. 22. The Humber haunts the clayie Riuers of hye Countries. Ibid., vi. 31. The Barbell, or Grayling, which some call the Vmber, are very subtill and craftie fishes.
1662. R. Venables, Exper. Angler, v. (1676), 50. The Umber is generally taken with the same Baits as the Trout.
a. 1672. Willughby, Hist. Pisc. (1686), Tab. N. 8. Thymus et Thymalus Salv[ian], a Greyling or Omer. Eboracensibus.
1740. R. Brookes, Art of Angling, I. ix. 33. Of the Grayling or Umber.… [It] is in proportion neither so broad nor so thick as a Trout.
1758. Descr. Thames, 178. Next to the Trout I place the Graylin or Umber, which are thought by some to differ.
1817–22. Encycl. Metrop. (1845), XIV. 585/1. The Grayling, or Umber, spawns in May, and is in the best condition in November.
1853. J. Jackson (title), The Practical Fly-Fisher; more particularly for Grayling or Umber.
