sardine

¹

[ sahr-deen ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) sar·dine, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) sar·dines.

1. the pilchard, Sardina pilchardus, often preserved in oil and used for food.
2. any of various similar, closely related fishes of the herring family Clupeidae.

sardine

²

[ sahr-dahyn, -dn ]

noun

1. sard.

sardine

¹

/ ˈsɑːdiːn; -dən /

noun

1. another name for sard

sardine

²

/ sɑːˈdiːn /

noun

1. any of various small marine food fishes of the herring family, esp a young pilchard See also sild
2. like sardines
   very closely crowded together

Word History and Origins

Origin of sardine¹

1400–50; late Middle English sardeine < Middle French sardine < Latin sardīna, derivative of sarda sardine, noun use of feminine of Sardus Sardinian

Origin of sardine²

1300–50; Middle English (< Late Latin sardīnus ) < Greek sárdinos sardius

Word History and Origins

Origin of sardine¹

C14: from Late Latin sardinus, from Greek sardinos lithos Sardian stone, from Sardeis Sardis

Origin of sardine²

C15: via Old French from Latin sardīna, diminutive of sarda a fish suitable for pickling

Idioms and Phrases

see packed in like sardines .

Example Sentences

“And there’s really only two places to shoot from and, in those areas, you can be packed like sardines.”

From Los Angeles Times

The so-called “hot girl food” is exactly what its name suggests: processed seafood — namely sardines, anchovies, salmon, mollusks and shellfish — that’s neatly packaged and presented in a peel-back, often decorative tin.

From Salon

Getting any product to consumers, whether it's a can of sardines or a screwdriver, requires that supply chains function well.

From Salon

“Everybody’s packed in like sardines. My friends are looking at me, and I’m like, ‘I’m sorry.’

From Los Angeles Times

Speaking at a housing forum in the city in July, she continued: “Where will the waiters who serve us a glass of wine and a plate of sardines live?”

From BBC

Related Words

• cluster
• congest
• congregate
• deluge
• flock
• gather
• huddle
• overcrowd
• pack
• pile
• squeeze
• stream
• swamp
• swarm
• throng