Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Sprat"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Sprat \Sprat\, n. [OE. sprot, sprotte, D. sprot; akin to G.
sprotte.] (Zo["o]l.)
(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}.
{Sprat borer} (Zo["o]l.), the red-throated diver; -- so
called from its fondness for sprats. See {Diver}.
{Sprat loon}. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) The young of the great northern diver. [Prov. Eng.]
(b) The red-throated diver. See {Diver}.
{Sprat mew} (Zo["o]l.), the kittiwake gull.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (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}]
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