also: なよし
noun
Refers specifically to the juvenile stage of the striped mullet (Mugil cephalus); the adult is called ぼら. The obsolete reading なよし can sometimes refer to adults as well.
See also: 鯔 (ぼら)
河口でいなの群れを見つけた。
I found a school of young striped mullet at the river mouth.
いなは成長するとぼらと呼ばれる。
Young striped mullet are called ぼら when they grow up.
Ateji spelling associated with the obsolete reading なよし; rarely used in modern Japanese.
ぼら is the adult striped mullet, while いな refers to the young fish.
The origin of いな is uncertain; it is a native Japanese word for the young striped mullet. The kanji 鯔 is a kokuji (Japanese-created character) used specifically for this fish.