ˈpilchə(r)d noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1. : a clupeid fish ( Sardinia pilchardus or Sardinella pilchardus ) that resembles the herring, occurs in great schools along the coasts of Europe, attains a length of 8 or 10 inches, and that is extensively used for food — see sardine
2. : any of several fishes (family Clupeidae) related to the European pilchard: as
a. : california sardine
b. : a sardine ( Sardinops sagax or Arengus sagax ) of the west coast of So. America and the coast of southern Africa that may be identical with the California sardine
c. : an Australian sardine ( Sardinops neopilchardus )