'Sprat' definitions:
Definition of 'sprat'
(from WordNet)
noun
Small fatty European fish; usually smoked or canned like sardines [syn: sprat, brisling]
noun
Small herring processed like a sardine [syn: brisling, sprat, Clupea sprattus]
Definition of 'Sprat'
From: 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]