sprat

sprat

noun \ˈsprat\

Definition of SPRAT

1

a : a small European marine fish (Sprattus sprattus) of the herring family —called also brisling b : any of various small or young fish (as an anchovy) related to or resembling the herrings

2

: a young, small, or insignificant person

Examples of SPRAT

1. <planning to spend their vacation at a couples-only resort where they would not be bothered by snotty-nosed sprats>

Origin of SPRAT

alteration of Middle English sprot, from Old English sprott

First Known Use: 1537

Related to SPRAT

Synonyms: bairn [chiefly Scottish], bambino, bud, chap [Southern & Midland], chick, cub, juvenile, kid, kiddie (also kiddy), kiddo, moppet, child, sprout, squirt, whelp, youngling, youngster, youth

Antonyms: adult, grown-up

Related Words: adolescent, minor; kindergartner (also kindergartener), preschooler, rug rat [slang], schoolboy, schoolchild, schoolgirl, schoolkid; babe, baby, bantling, infant, neonate, nestling, newborn, toddler, tot, tyke (also tike), weanling; brat, devil, hellion, imp, jackanapes, mischief, monkey, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, urchin, whippersnapper; cherub; preteen, preteen-ager, subteen, teen, teenager, teener, teenybopper, tween; lad, nipper, shaver, stripling, tad; bobby-soxer, hoyden, tomboy

Near Antonyms: middle-ager; ancient, elder, golden-ager, oldster, old-timer, senior, senior citizen

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Other Fishes Terms

char, chum, ichthyology, smelt, tetra, turbot

Rhymes with SPRAT

bat, batt, blat, brat, cat, Cat, chat, chert, drat, fat, flat, frat, gat, gnat, hat, mat, Matt, matte, pat, phat, plait, plat, Pratt, rat, sat, scat, scatt, skat, slat, spat, splat, stat, tat, that, vat