shad
pronunciation
How to pronounce shad in British English:
UK [ʃæd]
How to pronounce shad in American English:
US [ʃæd]
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- Noun:
- bony flesh of herring-like fish usually caught during their migration to fresh water for spawning; especially of Atlantic coast
- herring-like food fishes that migrate from the sea to freshwater to spawn
Word Origin
- shad (n.)
- Old English sceadd "shad," important food fish in the Atlantic, possibly from Scandinavian (Norwegian dialectal skadd "small whitefish"); but compare Welsh ysgadan (plural), Irish and Gaelic sgadan "herring." OED says Low German schade may be from English. Its importance suggested by its use in forming the common names of U.S. East Coast plants and wildlife whose active period coincides with the running of the shad up rivers, such as shad-bird, shad-bush, shad-flower, shad-fly, shad-frog. From the shape of the fish comes shad-bellied, 1832 in reference to persons, "having little abdominal protuberance;" of coats (1842) "sloping apart in front, cut away," especially in reference to the characteristic garb of male Quakers.
Example
- 1. Northland mimic minnow shad and shiner .
- 2. Shad of atlantic coast of north america ; naturalized to pacific coast .
- 3. Discussion on the adequate flue-mesh size for the changjiang reeves shad .
- 4. Present shad , puffer fish has become a precious national expressly prohibited to catch fish .
- 5. If you shad tears when you miss the sun , you also miss the stars .