whitebait

noun

white·​bait ˈ(h)wīt-ˌbāt 

1

: the young of any of several European herrings and especially of the common herring (Clupea harengus) or of the sprat (Sprattus sprattus)

2

: any of various small fishes likened to the European whitebait and used as food

Examples of whitebait in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The small fish, eaten whole like whitebait or anchovies, was a regular meal in 19th-century England, but their range extends far beyond the nation. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for whitebait

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate