sardine

n. [ F. sardine (cf. Sp. sardina, sarda, It. sardina, sardella), L. sardina, sarda; cf. Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;; so called from the island of Sardinia, Gr. &unr_;. ] (Zool.) Any one of several small species of herring which are commonly preserved in olive oil for food, especially the pilchard, or European sardine (Clupea pilchardus). The California sardine (Clupea sagax) is similar. The American sardines of the Atlantic coast are mostly the young of the common herring and of the menhaden. [ 1913 Webster ]