Sprat

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Sprat \Sprat\ (spr[a^]t), n. [OE. sprot, sprotte, D. sprot; akin
     to G. sprotte.] (Zool.)
     (a) A small European herring ({Clupea sprattus}) closely
         allied to the common herring and the pilchard; -- called
         also {garvie}. The name is also applied to small herring
         of different kinds.


     (b) A California surf-fish ({Rhacochilus toxotes}); -- called
         also {alfione}, and {perch}.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     {Sprat borer} (Zool.), the red-throated diver; -- so called
        from its fondness for sprats. See {Diver}.
  
     {Sprat loon}. (Zool.)
     (a) The young of the great northern diver. [Prov. Eng.]
     (b) The red-throated diver. See {Diver}.
  
     {Sprat mew} (Zool.), the kittiwake gull.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  sprat
       n 1: small fatty European fish; usually smoked or canned like
            sardines [syn: {brisling}]
       2: small herring processed like a sardine [syn: {brisling}, {Clupea
          sprattus}]