| 释义 |
sprat
I. \ˈsprat, usu -ad.+V\ noun
or spret \ˈspret, usu -ed.+V\
(-s)
Etymology: alteration of (assumed) Middle English sprot, from Old English sprott; probably akin to Old English sprūtan to sprout — more at sprout
dialect Britain : any of various rushes of the genus Juncus
II. noun
(-s)
Etymology: alteration of earlier sprot, from Middle English, from Old English sprott; probably akin to Old English sprūtan to sprout
1.
a. : a small European herring (Clupea sprattus) closely related to the common herring and the pilchard
b. : any of various other small or young herrings
2. : any of numerous small fishes (as anchovy or bleak) not clearly distinguished in popular usage from members of the herring family (Clupeidae)
3. : a small or insignificant person
< whip these young sprats — Jay Dugan >
< a surly … sprat of a man — T.B.Costain >
III. intransitive verb
(spratted ; spratted ; spratting ; sprats)
: to fish for sprats |