/sprat/ , n. , pl. sprats , ( esp. collectively ) sprat for 1.
1. a species of herring, Clupea sprattus, of the eastern North Atlantic.
2. a small or inconsequential person or thing.
[ 1590-1600; var. of earlier sprot, ME, OE (c. G Sprott ); appar. same word as OE sprott sprout, twig (for the two meanings cf. SPRAG 2 ); akin to OE spryttan to SPROUT ]