a member of any of two genera (Sardina and Sardinops) of small, oily, marine clupeid fishes; esp., the commercial sardine (Sardina pilchardus) of W Europe
Origin:
earlier pilcher < ?
See pilchard in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Any of various small marine fishes related to the herrings, especially a commercially important edible species, Sardina pilchardus, of European waters.