Main Entry:

sar·dine

Pronunciation:

\sär-ˈdēn\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural sardines also sardine

Etymology:

Middle English sardeine, from Anglo-French, from Latin sardina

Date:

14th century

1: any of several small or immature fishes of the herring family ; especially : the European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus) especially when young and of a size suitable for preserving for food2: any of various small fishes (as an anchovy) resembling the true sardines or similarly preserved for food