whitebait

American  

[hwahyt-beyt, wahyt-] / ˈʰwaɪtˌbeɪt, ˈwaɪt- /

noun

PLURAL

whitebait

1. a young sprat or herring.

2. Cooking.  any small, delicate fish cooked whole without being cleaned, especially the sprat.

---

whitebait British  

/ ˈwaɪtˌbeɪt /

noun

1. the young of herrings, sprats, etc, cooked and eaten whole as a delicacy

2. any of various small silvery fishes, such as Galaxias attenuatus of Australia and New Zealand and Allosmerus elongatus of North American coastal regions of the Pacific

---

Etymology

Origin of whitebait

First recorded in 1750–60; white + bait, so called from use as bait

Example Sentences

“Fish Made of Fish, New York,” which he constructed in 1939 by arranging innumerable whitebait into a finny form, is as clean and clear as a woodcut print.

From New York Times

As a food source, similar to the way in which we ourselves might enjoy whitebait?

From Nature

“And he hasn’t been whitebait fishing, so that’s another difference. It’s a great opportunity for the kid. He’s excited about it.”

From Seattle Times

We made garfish egg patties and deep-fried whitebait in fine polenta.

From The Guardian

One day in Lamorna Cove we could see the tiny whitebait in the shallows as kids skipped among them, some being thrown up by the waves.

From New York Times