sprat

[ sprat ]

noun

, plural sprats, (especially collectively) sprat

1. a species of herring, Clupea sprattus, of the eastern North Atlantic.
2. a small or inconsequential person or thing.

sprat

/ spræt /

noun

1. a small marine food fish, Clupea sprattus, of the NE Atlantic Ocean and North Sea: family Clupeidae (herrings) See also brisling
2. any of various small or young herrings

Word History and Origins

Origin of sprat¹

1590–1600; variant of earlier sprot, Middle English, Old English (cognate with German Sprott ); apparently same word as Old English sprott sprout, twig (for the two meanings sprag ² ); akin to Old English spryttan to sprout

Word History and Origins

Origin of sprat¹

C16: variant of Old English sprott; related to Middle Low German sprott, Norwegian sprot small rod

Example Sentences

The wild fish studied included Pacific and Peruvian anchoveta, and Atlantic herring, mackerel, sprat and blue whiting -- which are all marketed and consumed as seafood.

From Science Daily

In their flat, over a pile of sprat sandwiches, she explains that her eldest son is still in Ukraine expecting to be called up to fight any day.

From BBC

He added that minke whales feed on sand eels, sprat, young herring, other "shoaling small fishes" and zooplankton and there "must be good food for this animal to bring it into this area".

From BBC

“He was the cocky little sprat who came looking for instant sexual initiation for fear that the world was about to end.”

From Seattle Times

“Or even,” said he, “if you was helped to knocking her up a new chain for the front door,—or say a gross or two of shark-headed screws for general use,—or some light fancy article, such as a toasting-fork when she took her muffins,—or a gridiron when she took a sprat or such like—”

From Literature