shad

American  

[shad] / ʃæd /

noun

plural

shad,

plural

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 British  

/ 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

---

Etymology

Origin of shad

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

Example Sentences

Fishermen are concerned about coming runs of shad and striped bass.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Severn Estuary is home to huge numbers of sprats and salmon, and the twaite shad, a protected migrating species which spawns in the tributaries of the River Severn.

From BBC

High-frequency noises deter shad, but might be harmful to dolphins, which communicate using high frequencies.

From The Wall Street Journal

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