saalis

Saalis is a Finnish noun with several related meanings centered on something captured or obtained as a result of hunting, fishing, or raiding. In general usage, saalis refers to the catch or loot itself, and it can denote a living subject such as a fish or game animal, or in some contexts inanimate goods acquired through theft or robbery.

In ecology, saalis designates the prey that a predator captures. Predation is described as saalistus, and the predator as saalistaja. The predator–prey relationship is a central component of many ecological studies. For example, a fox’s saalis may include small mammals, birds, or insects.

In hunting and fishing contexts, saalis is used to refer to the catch itself, such as kalasaalis (the fish caught) or riistan saalis (the game hunted). It is common to specify the type of saalis in compound terms.

In contexts of theft or warfare, saalis can also mean loot or spoils obtained by raiders. In such uses, the word emphasizes the end result of a raid rather than the act itself; related terms include saalistus (predation or plundering) and saalistaja (raider).