Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

red-herring prospectuses

 - 5 dictionary results

red herring

 
Use red-herring prospectuses in a Sentence
–noun
1. a smoked herring.
2. something intended to divert attention from the real problem or matter at hand; a misleading clue.
3. Also called red-herring prospectus. Finance. a tentative prospectus circulated by the underwriters of a new issue of stocks or bonds that is pending approval by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: so called because the front cover of such a prospectus must carry a special notice printed in red.
4. any similar tentative financial prospectus, as one concerning a pending or proposed sale of cooperative or condominium apartments.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To red-herring prospectuses
Cultural Dictionary

red herring

In argument, something designed to divert an opponent's attention from the central issue. If a herring is dragged across a trail that hounds are following, it throws them off the scent.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

red herring 
"smoked herring" c.1420 (they turn red when cured). Supposedly used by fugitives to put bloodhounds off the scent (1686), hence metaphoric sense (1884) of "something used to divert attention from the basic issue."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Financial Dictionary

red herring

A prospectus that is given to potential investors in a new security issue before the selling price has been set and before the issuer's registration statement has been approved for accuracy and completeness by the SEC. This document, which provides details of the issue and facts concerning the issuer, is so named because of a statement on it, printed in red, that the issue has not yet been approved by the SEC. Also called preliminary prospectus.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: red her·ring
Pronunciation: "red-'her-i[ng]
Function: noun
Etymology: red herring something that distracts attention from the main issue, diversion
: a preliminary prospectus (as for the sale of securities) that is not yet approved by the appropriate body (as the Securities and Exchange Commission)
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see red-herring prospectuses on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: