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 food
2 : any of various small fishes (as an anchovy) resembling the true sardines or similarly preserved for food