atherine

[ ath-uh-rahyn, -er-in ]

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the family Atherinidae, comprising the silversides.

noun

1. an atherine fish.

Word History and Origins

Origin of atherine¹

1760–70; < New Latin Atherina a genus of the family < Greek atherínē smelt

Example Sentences

Sil′ver-fir, a coniferous tree of the genus Abies, whose leaves show two silvery lines on the under side; Sil′ver-fish, a name given to the atherine, to artificially bred gold-fish, the sand-smelt, the tarpon: any species of Lepisma, a thysanurous insect—also Bristletail, Walking-fish, Silver-moth, Shiner, &c.;

From Project Gutenberg