(ˈ)men|hād ə n, mənˈh- sometimes -had- noun
( plural menhaden also menhadens )
Etymology: of Algonquian origin; probably akin to Narraganset munnawhatteaûg menhaden, from munnohquohteau he fertilizes; from the use of menhaden as fertilizer
: a marine fish ( Brevoortia tyrannus ) of the family Clupeidae having a large head, deep compressed body, toothless jaws, and closely imbricated bluish silvery scales attaining a length of 12 to 16 inches, and being by far the most abundant of fishes on the Atlantic coast of the United States where scores of millions are annually taken and used for bait or converted into oil and fertilizer — called also mossbunker, pogy