sardine Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun small fatty fish usually canned
pilchard.
noun any of various small edible herring or related food fishes frequently canned
noun a deep orange-red variety of chalcedony
sardius; sard.
noun small fishes found in great schools along coasts of Europe; smaller and rounder than herring
Sardina pilchardus; pilchard.

F. sardine (cf. Sp. sardina, sarda, It. sardina, sardella), L. sardina, sarda; cf. Gr. , so called from island of sardinia, Gr. .

(Zoöl.) Any one of several small species of herring which are commonly preserved in olive oil for food, especially the pilchard, or European sardine (Clupea pichardus). The California sardine (Clupea sagax) is similar. The American sardines of the Atlantic coast are mostly the young of the common herring and of the menhaden.