n.
Pronunciation: ' shad
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural shad
Etymology: Middle English *shad, from Old English sceadd
Date: before 12th century
: any of several fishes (esp. genus Alosa ) of the herring family that differ from the typical herrings (genus Clupeus ) in having a relatively deep body and in being anadromous and that include some important food fishes of Europe and No. America