pilchard
Americannoun
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a small, southern European, marine fish, Sardina pilchardus, related to the herring but smaller and rounder.
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any of several related fishes, as Sardinops caeruleus, common off the California coast.
noun
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a European food fish, Sardina (or Clupea ) pilchardus, with a rounded body covered with large scales: family Clupeidae (herrings)
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a related fish, Sardinops neopilchardus , of S Australian waters
Etymology
Origin of pilchard
First recorded in 1520–30; earlier pilcher; origin uncertain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The eDNA identified 15 fish species, including the European pilchard, not typically found at their sampling location.
From Scientific American ● Feb. 3, 2015
Single 6/0 and 5/0 live-bait hooks are used to present a live pilchard or ballyhoo, or a fresh Spanish sardine.
From Time Magazine Archive
As he continued to toss fistfuls of pilchard pieces overboard, Pfeiffer and I free-lined whole dead baits into the ever-widening chum slick.
From Time Magazine Archive
By comparison, the pilchard design sinks more slowly and has an inherent wobble action.
From Time Magazine Archive
“Abbey ain’t much big- ger’n a pilchard herself. I’d sure like to see how she throws a net,” he said.
From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
