1
- a small marine fish of the herring family, widely caught for food and fish products西鲱。
1.1
- Sprattus and other genera, family Clupeidae: several species, in particular S. sprattus of European inshore waters.黍鲱属和其他属, 鲱科：数种, 尤指欧洲近海产的黍鲱。
1.2
- any of a number of small fishes that resemble the true sprats, e.g. the sand eel似西鲱的各种小鱼, 如鱼。
短语
a sprat to catch a mackerel
- Brit. a small expenditure made, or a small risk taken, in the hope of a large or significant gain〈英〉吃小亏占大便宜; 施小惠而得大利。
词源
late 16th cent.: variant of Old English sprot, of unknown origin.