n. & v.
n. 1 a small European herring-like fish, Sprattus sprattus, much used as food. 2 a similar fish, e.g. a sand eel or a young herring.
v.intr. (spratted, spratting) fish for sprats. a sprat to catch a mackerel a small risk to gain much. spratter n. spratting n.
[ OE sprot ]