/ ˈherɪŋ; NAmE / noun
( pl. her·ring or her·rings ) [ U , C ] a N Atlantic fish that swims in very large groups and is used for food :
shoals of herring
fresh herring fillets
pickled herrings
—see also red herring
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English hǣring , hēring , of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch haring and German Hering .