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.
Phrases and idioms:
a sprat to catch a mackerel a small risk to gain much.
Derivatives:
spratter n. spratting n.
Etymology: OE sprot