noun
eunicid worm; Eunicidae family worm
Refers to any marine worm of the family Eunicidae, often found in rocky shore habitats. Used in biological and fishing contexts.
イソメは釣り餌としてよく使われる。
Eunicid worms are often used as fishing bait.
磯でイソメを採集した。
We collected eunicid worms on the rocky shore.
ゴカイ refers to polychaete worms in general, while イソメ specifically denotes the family Eunicidae.
The name likely derives from 磯 (いそ, 'rocky shore') and 目 (め, 'eye' or 'segment'), referring to the segmented appearance of these shore-dwelling worms. The exact derivation is uncertain.