savelha

noun

sa·​ve·​lha

səˈvelyə

plural -s

1

: menhaden

2

: a fish (Brevoortia pectinata) of the south Atlantic closely related to the menhaden

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, diminutive of savel shad, probably of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish sam, samrad summer

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!