shad

[ shad ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) shad, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) shads.

1. a deep-bodied herring, Alosa sapidissima, of Europe and North America, that migrates up streams to spawn, used for food.
2. any other fish of the genus Alosa or related genera.
3. any of several unrelated fishes.

shad

/ ʃæd /

noun

1. any of various herring-like food fishes of the genus Alosa and related genera, such as A. alosa ( allis shad ) of Europe, that migrate from the sea to freshwater to spawn: family Clupeidae (herrings)
2. any of various similar but unrelated fishes

Word History and Origins

Origin of shad¹

before 1050; Old English sceadd (not recorded in ME)

Word History and Origins

Origin of shad¹

Old English sceadd; related to Norwegian skadd, German Schade shad, Old Irish scatān herring, Latin scatēre to well up

Example Sentences

He welcomed the timing of the settlement, which comes as many species of critical environmental and commercial importance to the region — such as rockfish, shad, herring and white perch — begin to spawn.

From Washington Post

The eaglets’ parents are bringing them plenty of food — usually shad, koi or catfish; and sometimes the occasional squirrel or groundhog — Greeley said.

From Washington Post

This leaves no other choice but to impose and enforce greater harvest restrictions to prevent the iconic blue crab from collapsing, as have other mismanaged fisheries including oysters, soft clams, shad and sturgeon.

From Washington Post

But an emerging threat becomes evident in early June as Friesen hauls up minnow traps and gillnets packed with carp, gizzard shad, green sunfish and, ominously, three smallmouth bass.

From Seattle Times

Some recipes are complex, like making wine from muscadine grapes, or stuffing shad with parsley rice and serving it with roe — a two-day effort.

From New York Times