–noun, plural sprats, (especially collectively) sprat for 1.
1.
a species of herring, Clupea sprattus, of the eastern North Atlantic.
2.
a small or inconsequential person or thing.
Origin: 1590–1600; var. of earlier sprot, ME, OE (c. G Sprott); appar. same word as OE sprott sprout, twig (for the two meanings cf. sprag2); akin to OE spryttan to sprout
A small marine food fish (Clupea sprattus) of northeast Atlantic waters that is eaten fresh or smoked and is often canned in oil as a sardine. Also called brisling.
Any of various other similar fishes, such as a young herring.
[Middle English sprot, spratte, from Old English sprot.]
[sprat] 
) sprat for 1. 
