[sar.dine] n, pl sardines also sardine [ME sardeine, fr. MF sardine, fr. L sardina] (14c) 1: any of several small or immature clupeid fishes; esp: the young of the European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus) when of a size suitable for preserving for food
2: any of various small fishes (as an anchovy) resembling the true sardines or similarly preserved for food